Newcastle United academy graduate Matty Longstaff could leave St. James’ Park on loan in January, should he sign a new contract, according to the Shields Gazette.
Longstaff’s current terms are due to expire in the summer, but the midfielder has been in negotiations with Managing Director Lee Charnley over a new deal for the past few months.
Head coach Steve Bruce revealed in December that he is hopeful a positive update will be made shortly into the New Year, with Longstaff free to negotiate pre-contracts with clubs from abroad as of January 1.
Newcastle would stand to make just £400,000 in compensation for his development if Longstaff were to leave Tyneside at the end of his current terms, while clubs in Germany have been credited with expressing an interest in the young midfielder.
Should the club send Longstaff out on loan this month?
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This season has been a meteoric rise for Longstaff, having begun the campaign as part of Neil Redfearn’s Under 23s before breaking into the first-team and scoring the winning goal against Manchester United on his debut in October.
Bruce handed the 19-year-old further appearances against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers on the back of beating the Red Devils, though the Rotherham-born talent would not feature again until our Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford where he would score the opening goal.
Longstaff remains expected to pen a new deal that will commit his long-term future to the club, and doing so would see him leave Tyneside on loan this month to gain valuable first-team experiences.
In other Newcastle United news, the club have been linked with a £35m Premier League star as part of Bruce’s January plans.