The news all Newcastle fans feared is seemingly on its way, as the Telegraph believe Manchester United are preparing a bid for Magpies gem Sean Longstaff.
Our academy graduate had emerged as a Red Devils target last week, but there were instantly claims touted elsewhere that he would not be leaving St James’ Park inside a year of his breakthrough and would instead be offered another new contract to place him more in line with other first-team members.
There were even shouts from Manchester that United had no interest in Longstaff right now, and were focusing their efforts to complete the signing of Swansea City winger Daniel James before turning their attention to fixing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s central problems.
Unfortunately, the Telegraph now understand Longstaff is not only on the Norwegian’s shortlist this summer, but his performances on Tyneside have placed the 21-year-old toward the top of his targets, despite only making twelve appearances for the Magpies in all competitions.
It is not said how much Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward is willing to offer us for the North Shields-born star, but the Telegraph suggest an offer could be made by the end of the week – playing into the uncertainty which surrounds the club all the while Rafa Benitez’s contract situation remains unresolved.
If United do make a move for Longstaff, we cannot cave in lightly, as they are thought to be willing to pay more than £70million for Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire, and are close to reaching an agreement to land James for £15m.
During his first-team breakthrough, Longstaff recorded the third-most tackles per 90 minute of any Newcastle central-midfielder, and the two ahead – Isaac Hayden and Mo Diame – are both likely going to be leaving Tyneside in the coming months.