‘Newcastle headache could force Sean Longstaff stay amid Leeds and Everton pursuit’
Sean Longstaff could be set to remain at Newcastle United this summer despite interest from other Premier League league clubs.
The midfielder struggled for game time last season, as Eddie Howe‘s side lifted the League Cup and qualified for the Champions League.
That has led to speculation around the future of the 27-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract at St James’ Park.
Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that Everton could see a £12million bid for Longstaff accepted in the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, this season’s Championship title winners Leeds United have also been credited with an intrest in the Newcastle midfielder.
Sean Longstaff facing fresh transfer twist
With just one-year remaining on his contract, this could ordinarily represent an ideal time for the Magpies to cash in on Longstaff.
However, an update from The Athletic states that Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League has made the midfielder’s future even more uncertain.
That is due to homegrown quotas set by UEFA, which stipulate that clubs participating in European competitions must have at least eight homegrown players in their squad.
When the Magpies last played in the Champions League two years ago, a lack of homegrown players meant their squad size was limited to 23, rather than the usual 25.
As a result, it is suggested that as a club-trained player, Longstaff could be kept on by Newcastle to secure them an extra space in their Champions League squad for next season and boost Howe’s options.
| Sean Longstaff 2024/25 stats | Total (Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 32 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 1,203 |
Newcastle United to be frustrated over transfer update
Football Insider Verdict
With Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes firmly established as the first-choice trio for the Magpies, it is hard to imagine Longstaff getting much game time if he does stay.
As a result, the player himself is unlikely to be happy if this proves to be the case, and it could hamper Newcastle in the window given it may restrict them slightly more when it comes to PSR.
It would also cost the club what might be an important last chance to raise some money on Longstaff before his contract expires this time next year.
In that sense this would be a disappointing scenario for all involved, although Howe is going to need plenty of squad depth to work with next season.
Keeping the midfielder and opening up another space in his Champions League squad would be an extra boost in terms of his attempts to do that, although Newcastle links to Jack Rudoni at Frank Lampard’s Coventry seem certain to be based on potential to replace Longstaff as a domestically registered player.
With that in mind, Newcastle may now have more to weigh up when it comes to Longstaff, which will also annoy the likes of Everton and Leeds, given they will want to start work on their own squads this summer.