According to Mirror, Manchester United are growing increasingly confident in their pursuit of Sean Longstaff. The Red Devils are keen to continue their squad overhaul this summer, and after signing Daniel James of Swansea, they have now set their sights on this exciting Newcastle midfielder.
The report claims that United are ready to cough up £25 million to attain the services of Longstaff, who is touted as the next big thing in English football.
Longstaff’s rapid rise to prominence
Following his promotion to the Newcastle’s senior side in January, Longstaff has been quick to become a key player for the Magpies. He initially made his Premier League debut against Liverpool on boxing day last year. And since then, the 21-year-old made nine appearances in the league and 16 in all competitions with the Newcastle first-team this past season.
Longstaff’s overall game-time was drastically minimised due to a knee injury he suffered during the final phase of the season. But, the youngster’s impressive performances was enough to suggest that he’s a quality player, who can be groomed into a world-class midfielder in the near future.
What can Longstaff bring to the table?
A central midfielder by trade, Longstaff is a sensible operator in the middle of the park. He is not the flashiest of players but rather keeps things neat and straightforward, from his passing to his tackling. That means the 21-year-old rarely loses possession while his discipline is impeccable.
He can also feature on either side of central midfield as well as the defensive midfield role – making him a versatile operator. Longstaff is also a good reader of the ball and has averaged 1.1 interceptions per game. However, what makes him such a unique component in midfield is his defensive work-rate, with the midfielder averaging 1.9 tackles and winning one headed duel per game.
Where does Longstaff fit into Manchester United?
Longstaff will be an excellent addition to Manchester United as he will offer Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer additional options in midfield. The Newcastle star can be utilised as a holding midfielder, ahead of Nemanja Matic, who has struggled with form.
He can provide extensive defensive cover for the backline, which, in turn, will allow the likes of Paul Pogba and other midfielders to become more expressive in the final third. Besides, the fact that Longstaff can offer more mobility as well as more assurance during possession phases potentially makes him a better option than the Serbian international.
Furthermore, the youngster fits the desired criteria of Solskjaer, who is keen to build his team around young homegrown talents next season and Longstaff, at the age of 21, could be an ideal match. And for a relatively meagre fee of just £25 million, the 21-year-old will be a smart long-term investment for the Red Devils.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
