OPINION
To say Newcastle United’s youth system has been woefully underproducing in terms of promising talents making the step up to the first team would be something of an understatement.
At the start of the 2018/19 season, the only representative among the Magpies’ squad who had spent any time cutting his teeth on Tyneside was Paul Dummett, the likes of Sammy Ameobi and Adam Armstrong having come and gone without really making the desired impact.
However, the Welsh international was joined by Sean Longstaff early in 2019 and the impact made by the midfielder made St James’ Park – as well as others around England – stand up and take notice.
In fact, his performances were so eye-catching that Manchester United have been linked with making a move this summer, the Manchester Evening News reporting that the Red Devils have held talks with the midfielder’s representatives over a switch.
If the Old Trafford outfit can make a move to get him signed up, surely Newcastle will be in discussions over extending his stay on Tyneside – after all, he will have been dreaming about playing for his boyhood club since he was a child.
However, the Sun report that while Newcastle were set to offer him a new contract, negotiations have not even started yet – an update which will have the club faithful fuming.
It seems any sort of contract discussions have been put on hold, Rafael Benitez’s perhaps the more high-profile issue, but in Longstaff the Magpies are risking losing the most exciting talent to come through their academy doors in some years.
His stats say it all, the 21-year-old proving himself to be one of the more attack-minded midfielders among the squad with a willingness to shoot, dribble and perhaps most importantly, keep possession for his side.
His passing capabilities is where he truly shines, with nearly four more passes on average per game than last season’s midfield partner Isaac Hayden and seven more than Mo Diame – his pass success rate higher than the pair too.
Newcastle cannot afford to lose a talent like Longstaff if they want to progress as a club and to hear that no contract talks have taken place will have the Magpies support tearing their hair out – and rightly so.
