OPINION
Manchester United are arrogant to believe Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is eager to exit St James Park given they don’t sound like they’re about to guarantee him playing time if he joins them.
The Evening Standard reported on Friday that Man United had previously delayed making an official bid for the Magpies midfielder as they believe he’ll be eager to ditch his boyhood club in order to rock up at Old Trafford.
Firstly that seems an arrogant stance to hold, as it sounds like they believe it won’t take time to convince Longstaff to join them, so they don’t have to rush to act.
This is especially the case when you consider Longstaff being happy at St James Park has never really been doubted, as notable journalist Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has previously said as much.
“Having spoken to people close to Longstaff, he’s happy here. He wants to stay at Newcastle,” Downie said on Sky Sports News’ Transfer Talk podcast in May [56m04s].
It’s easy to believe that Longstaff is happy at St James Park, even since Rafa Benitez’s exit as a player always tends to have a special bond with their boyhood club as well as a special connection with the side that gives them their first real chance.
Longstaff was handed his first chance to impress in the Premier League last season, and seized it by appearing nine times in the division ahead of a frustrating injury blown.
However, that stance isn’t the only sign of arrogance from Man United in the Evening Standard’s report, as it seems the club aren’t signing Longstaff in order to make an instant impact.
The newspaper claimed that while Longstaff represents the emerging domestic talent that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to add to his squad, Man United were also targetting Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes in order to acquire a player who could make an instant change to the club’s fortunes.
So this implies that Longstaff isn’t guaranteed many first-team minutes, as the fact the report goes on to say that the 21-year-old is regarded as a player for the future; makes it even clear he wouldn’t necessarily get game time at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old started 21% of the Magpies’ league games in his 2018/19 campaign and would have featured more if he didn’t get injured, so why would he be eager to get a move that would see him put his feet up? It’s simply pure arrogance from Man United to think that.
The Sun may point out that Longstaff has a superior tackle success rate in the league, 76%, then some of Man United other players Fred, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic; it clearly won’t be enough to make a move worthwhile.
So while Man United may reportedly believe Longstaff would jump at the chance to join them, it’s just arrogant based on it seemingly looking like they’re signing him for the future; when the Magpies are ready to use him now.
