Newcastle are ‘adamant’ that midfielder Sean Longstaff will not be sold in the summer transfer window, according to the Northern Echo.
The 21-year-old has impressed under Rafael Benitez in his breakthrough season at the Magpies, scoring two goals and adding one assist in 13 appearances this season.
The newspaper claims that although Longstaff’s name was mentioned by Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in and end-of-season discussion about summer targets, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and director Lee Charnley are insistent that the youngster will not be sold.
OPINION
Longstaff’s season was cut short at the start of March when the results of a scan revealed that he had suffered knee ligament damage, but that will not stop other clubs trying to sign him this summer. There is no doubt that United need to rebuild, and it is perhaps these types of players – the ones without egos but with all the talent – that Solskjaer needs in his side. Add to that the fact that Longstaff is English and could be a high-quality player in the future and you begin to understand why he has supposedly been courted by the Red Devils. The Northern Echo report claims that Longstaff is due to come back from his injury in time to make some participate in Newcastle’s pre-season, which will not only be a boost to the Magpies, but also to other clubs, who know that if they sign him, he will be ready to hit the ground running when the season kicks off for good.