Sean Longstaff quickly looked as though he was joining Leeds United this summer. But now a move from Newcastle United looks unlikely.
Sean Longstaff is someone who Daniel Farke has liked for a long time. As far back as last summer, Leeds United were being linked with Longstaff who’s steadily fallen down the pecking order at hometown club Newcastle United.
Last season, Longstaff made just eight starts in the Premier League as Eddie Howe chucked the 27-year-old well down the pecking order. But despite his contract expiring in the summer of 2026, Newcastle seem to be playing hardball over Longstaff’s future.
It’s reported that Leeds United have seen three bids rejected for Longstaff so far. A £12million price tag is being thrown around in headlines, though many suggest that Newcastle want closer to £15million for the academy graduate.
Leeds United have now made their mind up on Sean Longstaff
An emerging report from Leeds Live has now revealed the true feeling about Longstaff behind the scenes at Elland Road. They write that Leeds United are now ‘understood to be looking at other targets and are not confident a deal will progress’, seemingly all but ruling out a summer move for the Englishman.
And there are plenty of other midfield targets being mentioned, though few seem as close to joining as Longstaff did just a few days ago.
Leeds United are in the running to sign Neil El Aynaoui from RC Lens and he plays a similar midfield role to Longstaff. Elsewhere, names like Raphael Onyedika at Club Brugge have been mentioned, along with Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes and Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz.
Will Leeds United make another bid for Sean Longstaff?
Armed with a £150million transfer budget at Leeds United this summer, Farke surely won’t give up easily on Longstaff, especially given how long he’s wanted to bring the midfielder to Elland Road for.
Speaking to Leeds United News recently, transfer expert Graeme Bailey backed Leeds United to make another bid for Longstaff, suggesting that Leeds and Newcastle United aren’t a million miles away in terms of the transfer fee involved.
Bailey said: “Leeds are threatening to go elsewhere. I don’t think a deal is a million miles away. It makes sense with a deal so close, we aren’t talking £5m-£10m away. It’s ongoing, that one.”
No doubt, Longstaff would add huge experience and quality to the midfield ranks. And whilst transfer matters can change quickly, other teams can come in and blow others out of the water just as quickly, with Leeds having already been beaten to the punch by Sunderland in a number of pursuits.
If Farke really wants Longstaff, he should simply put more money on the table and sign him before it’s too late.
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