Manchester United have reportedly reignited their interest in Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff ahead of the summer transfer window.
Former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was allegedly keen to lure Longstaff to Old Trafford in the summer of 2019 as one his first signings as permanent manager of the club.
Steve Bruce was in charge of Newcastle at the time when “a big-money move to Manchester United was on the cards” for Longstaff, and he has claimed that the Magpies rejected a “colossal” offer from the Premier League giants.
It is understood that Man United were put off by Newcastle’s £50m asking price for Longstaff and instead splashed the cash on the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the same summer.
Man United’s interest in Longstaff subsequently cooled and they have since gone on to sign other midfielders including Casemiro, Mason Mount and most recently Manuel Ugarte last summer.
Man United, Everton enter race for Longstaff
Now, Chronicle Live claims that both Man United and Everton are ‘back in for Longstaff’s signature’ and are keen to sign the midfielder ahead of next season.
Longstaff will soon be entering the final 12 months of his contract at St James’ Park and is said to be approaching a crossroads in his Newcastle career.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali have cemented their places in Eddie Howe‘s midfield, with the latter nudging Longstaff down the pecking order since returning from his 10-month betting ban in October last year.
In addition, 18-year-old starlet Lewis Miley is expected to be given more first-team opportunities next season and is arguably ahead of Longstaff at present after returning from injury.
While it seems unlikely that Newcastle would demand as much as £50m again for Longstaff, they are aware that his sale would generate pure profit as he came through the club’s academy.
Longstaff set to weigh up Newcastle future this summer?
Longstaff made his competitive debut for Newcastle under former boss Rafael Benitez in August 2018 and has since represented his boyhood club a total of 210 times in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists.
The 27-year-old played in 33 of Newcastle’s 38 Premier League games when they secured a top-four finish and qualified for the Champions League under Howe in 2022-23, and he played a further 35 times in the English top flight the following campaign, establishing himself as a first-team regular.
However, this term, Longstaff has been reduced to just eight starts and 13 substitute outings in the Premier League and has not started a top-flight match since December 7.
Longstaff celebrated EFL Cup glory with Newcastle earlier this month, despite watching on as an unused substitute as the Magpies beat Liverpool 2-1 in the final, and although the club seems to be on the up under Howe, the midfielder may need to consider moving on in search of regular game time as he enters the prime years of his career.
Man United could provide Longstaff with first-team football, especially if at least one of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo – who have all been linked with summer exits – leave Old Trafford.
