North Shields-born Sean Longstaff broke into the first-team of his childhood side in December, and now his efforts on Tyneside have attracted the interest of Manchester United, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks for home-grown talents who can reignite the faltering top-six side, as per Sky Sports.
The Old Trafford outfit are yet to make a move or even open discussions for the midfield anchor TransferMarkt only value at £2.25million, but they would have to offer a great deal more for the 21-year-old if they were to.
Manchester City and Liverpool both scouted the 5 ft 9 21-year-old at times during his rise to prominence, too.
Not that it would matter, however, as the Chronicle understand Longstaff is considered ‘the last player’ United are looking at moving on in the summer transfer window, as the Magpies could lose Mo Diame, Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey over the next few months.
In fact, academy graduate Longstaff could even sign another new contract at St James’ Park to ward off any potential interest in his services, having been given an improved deal in December merely as a reward for breaking into the first-team.
Talks over a deal that would move Longstaff more in line with other first-team players will likely start once a decision is made on Rafa Benitez’s future.
Since making his senior United debut in the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest last summer, Longstaff went on to make a further twelve appearances in all competitions – three of which were in the FA Cup – but saw his maiden top-flight campaign brought to a premature end when he suffered a knee injury in March.