According to a recent report by the Metro, Manchester United are prepared to end their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff after the Magpies put a £50m price-tag on his head.
The Times has also claimed that the executive vice-chairman of the Man United, Ed Woodward, is only willing to make an offer between £18m and £20m for Longstaff which is far below Newcastle’s valuation of the player.
Longstaff’s Outstanding Campaign At St. James’ Park
Longstaff came through the youth ranks of the Tyneside club before he broke out as a first-team starter last season. He got some valuable top-flight experience under Rafael Benitez’s tutelage in the previous campaign when he put in a string of eye-catching performances wearing a Newcastle shirt.
The 21-year-old featured in 26 matches for the Magpies in the last term, scoring three times while providing six assists on all fronts. His stellar displays in Benitez’s midfield helped the club avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight last season. However, the North Shields-born starlet suffered an unfortunate knee injury back in March which had derailed his rapid progress at St. James’ Park.
What Will The English Midfield Ace Add To Solskjaer’s Team?
Longstaff is not afraid to work his socks off for his side at the centre of the park. At the tender age of 21, the English midfield ace has begun to contribute by scoring or assisting a few goals in the opposition half. However, his game still has a lot of room for improvement, so staying at Tyneside beyond this summer might be the best move for his long-term growth as a player.
Should Man United Give Up On Longstaff?
Recruiting a prospect like Longstaff will undoubtedly bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield options at the Theatre of Dreams. Even though he will be a terrific acquisition for the Red Devils, one can argue whether the English midfielder is worth £50m.
Solskjaer cannot afford to splash the cash based on Longstaff’s remarkable potential at this stage of his managerial tenure at Old Trafford as he needs more proven talents in his squad. Thus, the Norwegian manager would be better off keeping the £50m and spending the money on players who are currently at their prime this summer.
