OPINION
Newcastle United fans should be worried about the future of Sean Longstaff after it was reported that Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to sign the midfielder this week.
According to the Daily Star, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made it a priority to sign Longstaff, 21, and Man United are willing to offer the central midfielder a long-term deal worth £75,000-a-week to lure him to Old Trafford this summer.
If the chance to move to Manchester United wasn’t a big enough draw for Longstaff, the chance to earn a big-money deal if he was to opt for the switch is surely going to make it very hard for him to turn down a potential move.
Before he was handed a new deal by Newcastle in December, Longstaff was earning less than £1,000-a-week at St James’ Park [Daily Star] and while he did earn a pay rise when he agreed new terms with the Magpies before the turn of the year, it is reported that what Man United will offer him is a lot more.
Longstaff does still have another three years remaining on his contract, which does put Newcastle in a good position as Man United aim to sign the midfielder, but tight-fisted owner Mike Ashley is bound to be happy to cash in on a player who has only made nine appearances in the Premier League.
While Longstaff is inexperienced and had his 2018/19 season cut short by injury in March, the North Shields-born ace certainly impressed in the time that he was on the pitch.
According to stats by WhoScored, Longstaff had the best pass success percentage [80.9%] of all central midfielders at Newcasle last season except for Ki Sung-yueng [85.1%].
Longstaff also averaged 1.9 tackles per league appearances, which is good considering Jonjo Shelvey averaged 1.4 and Ki averaged 0.8.
The Man United target did brilliantly for someone who is only 21-years-old and is so inexperienced in the Premier League.
However if the Red Devils do come forward with an acceptable bid and table that big-money contract to Longstaff, then it will surely be time for Newcastle fans to start sweating over the future of their impressive midfielder.
