Manchester United are reportedly set to launch an opening bid to try and sign midfielder Sean Longstaff from Newcastle United.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Manchester United are preparing an offer for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, as they seek to make the Englishman their third signing of the summer transfer window.
Manchester United’s business in the summer window has been slow-going. While they have recruited two talented young players in Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a lot of work still needs to be done in the transfer market, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to build a team capable of challenging arch-rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
The midfield department is an area where the 20-time English champions need to strengthen ahead of the next season. Manchester United lost Ander Herrera on a free transfer this summer, while midfield mainstay Paul Pogba has made his intentions of wanting to leave very clear.
This would leave Manchester United short on quality in the middle of the park, with an ageing Nemanja Matic, academy graduates Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira as the only options along with last summer signing Fred. This has led the Red Devils to the doors of Newcastle United, as they look to add Sean Longstaff to their roster.
Longstaff is regarded as one of the most talented young players to have come through the Newcastle United academy in recent years. After having spent time away on loan at Blackpool and Kilmarnock, the 21-year-old made his first-team debut for Newcastle in December last year and made a solid impression.
Longstaff went on to feature on 12 more occasions for the Tyneside outfit, before a knee ligament injury sustained in March cut short his debut campaign. The midfielder scored two goals and assisted one more in his handful of appearances, managing to catch the attention of Manchester United boss Solskjaer.
Under the Norwegian, Manchester United seem to have shifted their transfer strategy to signing young, homegrown players with potential rather than investing in established superstars, as indicated by the transfers of James and Wan-Bissaka.
And Longstaff fits into that profile perfectly. However, Newcastle United have no intentions of losing their prized asset, having tied him down to a new long-term contract till 2022 in December last year. But, the report from Sky Sports claims that a bid in the region of £50 million could force their hands into cashing in on the Englishman.
Manchester United were believed to be making an opening offer of £15 million plus add-ons, but it seems like they will need to up their bid, if they are to secure Longstaff’s signature. It remains to be seen if the Red Devils step up their pursuit of the 21-year-old in the coming days or decide to look at other options.
