With Sean Longstaff’s time on Tyneside looking increasingly likely of coming to an end this summer, a number of other Premier League clubs have emerged as potential suitors for the local lad.
Alongside Everton, one of the clubs is none other than Manchester United, with The Chronicle reporting on the Red Devils’ interest over the weekend.
And the news looks like it hasn’t gone down well on the Red side of Manchester, who may be facing a new reality in terms of who they can attract down in 13th; despite Gary Neville’s suggestions that Alexander Isak would like to join them!
Despite Sean Longstaff being a part of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup winning squad, with Champions League and Premier League experience in the last two seasons as a dependable midfielder, Manchester United fans seem to think they are above signing a player of Longstaff’s talent and experience.
Mark Goldbridge of The United Stand perhaps epitomises the online reaction the most via his latest Youtube rant, being quick to express his disappointment over potentially signing Longstaff.
Even with an ageing midfield with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, and increased rumours of Kobbie Mainoo departing in the summer, Goldbridge bemoans the potential signing of the 27-year-old Geordie:
“Manchester United linked to….Sean Longstaff! Eugh…eugh…I’m heaving. How are we gonna catch these teams up by signing Sean Longstaff?”
“If we wanna get serious, we’re miles off. And when you’re miles off, you need to buy better players, not players that they don’t want.”
“At 27, he is not going to be the solution to Man Utd’s problems. He can’t get into Newcastle’s midfield. If you want to be a mid-table side, by all means sign Sean Longstaff.”
“If you want to get into the top four and be Man Utd, don’t go anywhere near Sean Longstaff! If we sign him, Newcastle fans will be celebrating it more than the Carabao Cup win!”
Manchester United were linked with a £50m move for Longstaff back in 2019 following his breakthrough under Rafa Benitez, but it’s fair to say his career hasn’t quite taken off as some predicted it would six years ago.
With Longstaff entering the final 12 months of his contract and slipping behind Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali and Miley in Howe’s pecking order, a summer move feels increasingly likely.
Between Manchester United and Everton, fans would perhaps prefer Longstaff to play for the Toffees out of the two teams, allowing one of our own to at least get regular game time without being a potential asset for a side more likely to compete for European football against the Mags.
However, if recent windows are any indicator, Manchester United are notoriously a club who will overpay for talent. Being a homegrown player, the more money that Newcastle can get off Longstaff, the more freedom we will have to act in the transfer market and boost the squad elsewhere, should the Reds even up their interest, that is.