OPINION
Things surely couldn’t get any worse for Newcastle United at this current moment in time, right?
In true Mike Ashley style, he currently is playing with his puppet set which is his staff at St James’ Park. Nothing is ever certain under his management, and after the confirmed departure of Rafael Benitez, things are looking bleaker than ever.
You could nearly fill a stand at the ground with the ongoing list of potential management candidates, and with the players returning to pre-season in the next week, their future remains unknown.
The only thing that could save mayhem in the North East is the importance of keeping hold of their brightest talents.
Players such as Ayoze Perez and Sean Longstaff were major positives in the previous campaign, and both have been the centre of transfer speculation.
Longstaff quickly became a mainstay under Benitez last season and has quickly gathered the attention of Manchester United. Football Insider have reported that the youngster is set to receive a bumper contract deal something that will surely see the 21-year-old move clubs.
Newcastle have got to point where they cannot compete with the Premier League giants, and one of the major things behind the midfield starlet wanting to stay would have been the management of Benitez.
Now the Spaniard has left the club, Longstaff is surely set to leave with a five-year-deal worth £60,000 per-week reportedly waiting for him at Old Trafford – money that he will simply not be offered by Ashley.
This would be a hammer blow to the Magpies, who would have planned their future around the 21-year-old in the heart of midfield. Alongside Isaac Hayden, Longstaff formed a great partnership – with the duo topping the averages in terms of tackles, dribbles, and interceptions in midfield. [WhoScored]
With Hayden also expected to leave the North East, Longstaff’s decision could be made easier, with an exodus surely on the horizon at St James’ Park.
