Manchester United, Celtic and Kilmarnock sent scouts to watch Newcastle youngsters Freddie Woodman and Sean Longstaff on Friday, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claims that both players, who have yet to agree new contracts at St James’ Park, were the subject of interest from a number of clubs during Newcastle U-23’s defeat against Southampton.
Longstaff’s deal run out at the end of this season, while Woodman’s contract also comes to an end in 2019, and neither man looks set to receive a spell in the first team any time soon.
Longstaff enjoyed a loan spell with Kilmarnock in 2017, before spending last season at Blackpool. Woodman has also spent time in Scotland with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
OPINION
Newcastle are certainly running the risk of losing both these players in the coming year or so. Longstaff has mere months left on his deal now, and it’s unknown at this time whether the club wants to keep him on Tyneside or not. He’s shown in his loan spells that he’s a talented player, but whether he’s good enough to be a Premier League player remains to be seen. Woodman has long been touted as a future number one for Newcastle, but it’s taking longer for that to happen than many people probably expected. Manchester United would seem like the wrong move for both men, as there’s not much chance that they could make the first team grade at Old Trafford. A move to Celtic would be perfect, though, as Brendan Rodgers would be able to give them first team football and the chance to improve under his management. A switch north of the border should be something they both consider.
