Saw this in the Express. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/foo...ransfer-news-Sean-Longstaff-Newcastle-sources It got me thinking... I wouldn't put it past the fat man to sanction a last minute, Carroll style sale if Man Utd come in with £35-40m. It will (Again) be too late to spend the money and once again Ashley will have turned a profit on player trading... but it's not his fault.... etc... blah... blah... It's ironic that Matty Longstaff is being edged closer to the first team... almost as though Fatty will try to get him fast tracked to offset the departure of his brother... as if we wouldn't notice a different Longstaff starting in our first 11. So do you think we'll get stitched up by the fat man and Longstaff will be sold in August?
TBH I think Ashley will chance it and hope Longstaff plays this season and shines and value increases. If he did sell Longstaff the day or two before the Arsenal game St James' will be under 25k!
This won't be the clubs decision in the main. If the young lad wants to go, he will do because keeping an unhappy player is pointless these days. Unfortunately I can see Longstaff wanting the move if the right club makes a bid. His dad is a former pro sportsman and know how it works. He won't want to see his son missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime to stay with a club like ourselves who are at best in stasis. Ashley drives an incredibly hard bargain is the positive for those hoping he remains. He will want a lot more than market value and I think he will be eyeing upwards of 40m. That may be difficult for most clubs to justify on a lad who's played a handful of games (as good as I think he is).
If he gets a good run this season ( and it seems likely he would do) then even as an average player given his age and nationality he'd be worth 20m+ Why would we sell him for less than 30 when there's a good chance he'll be with more than that in a year or two if he's above average. I think he's staying but nothing would surprise me. P.s. it isn't like Carroll, the money we were offered then was extraordinary. This would only be equivalent of they came in with 50+, far more than he has justified being worth.
What do you do though if he requests to leave? The fans like to believe Carroll was forced out. I know someone who knows him and as soon as the bid was accepted he was keen on the move. He didn't agitate for the move, but he certainly wasn't forced out. I think this could be different again and I think Longstaff might ask to go. I think people should remember this kid was playing for Blackpool and Kilmarnock not that long ago. His career has accelerated at an extraordinary pace. He may well have his dad saying "son you need to move, Newcastle are going nowhere" or he may have his dad saying "son you're best served by staying put". We just don't know. Transfers seem more about players wishes than clubs wishes now.
There's a lot of English players who have moved to top clubs in the recent past only to have their careers stagnate. Even as a natural is say you want to make a bit of a name for yourself and get a season or two under your belt first so if the move turns sour you still have interested parties.
That would be the common sense approach. It never seems to be the way though. To be honest I'm surprised the German clubs aren't sniffing.
I reckon he is staying put for now. Think Ashley will be keen not to rock the boat with a new manager in so I think he will keep him for now. Expect Longstaff to want to stay and get guaranteed first team games under his belt as well.
Obviously the incoming owners will have insisted he stays as well. After all they forced Ashley to sign Joelinton and go with their choice of Bruce so it makes sense they will want to keep Longstaff as well.
I can't believe even Bruce would be that stupid ................................... but you never know.
