Leeds United are closing in on the capture of Sean Longstaff from Newcastle United, with the player heading for a medical.
He will become the club’s fifth addition of the summer after signing, with Leeds United having already acquired Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Longstaff was first linked to Leeds back in March 2024. However, a deal hasn’t been simplistic thus far. In recent days, it was stated that the third Leeds offer of £12 million was knocked back despite positive noises coming out from the Newcastle end.
It was then claimed Longstaff could have been signed last weekend but things are now accelerating rapidly towards a conclusion after a delay, with a breakthrough over a £15 million fee between Leeds and Newcastle agreed.
Leeds United supporters think Sean Longstaff could be their best signing this summer
Sandro Tonali believes Longstaff is underrated, and that particular sentiment is echoed by a number of Leeds fans. It begs the question over whether a player can be underrated if numerous people are in agreement over the same thing.
That said, many Leeds supporters are enjoying the sensible aspect of adding a player into the team with 171 Premier League appearances to his name.
Another stated: “Longstaff could end up being the most important signing we make, box to box midfielder, great engine, gets goals from midfield and is ready made for the relegation battle ahead.
“Next up for me will be Stach, a good CDM who wins the ball and passes it, nothing flash, doesn’t get forward but a big, strong player who will add competition with Ampadu, Gruev and Tanaka #lufc”
A further comment read: “Longstaff walks into our midfield by the way. People have the preconceived idea about some of our players being able to make the step up easily, when in reality, we have a handful. Longstaff at £12m+, gives us some fantastic options. Great signing.”
Another Leeds fan added: “If we land Longstaff it’s a brilliant signing passionate and prem experience he will have something to prove and no big fee exactly what I want to see 👊”
It’s been reported that Longstaff is headed for a medical tomorrow, and he will bolster their engine room, with Longstaff’s superb work-rate, energy, and tenacity explained by the data via Opta’s Jamie Kemp.
Leeds United’s plan after Sean Longstaff and the need for tactical flexibility
Leeds are targeting at least six players after Longstaff, including TSG 1899 Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach, with reports emerging that terms have been agreed between Stach and Leeds.
The 49ers and Daniel Farke want a deep and high-quality Leeds squad, with the ability to be more tactically flexible and change formations mid-game and between games.
That requires numerous players but also versatility in how they operate in a team. Stach, for example, has experience of playing as a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, and as a central defender.
Nmecha can feature as a striker or winger; Gudmundsson as a full-back, winger, wing-back or centre-back; Bornauw in the centre of defence or midfield; and Longstaff in every central midfield role — be that deeper, more attacking, or as a box-to-box player.
Bijol has also played briefly in defensive midfield in his early career, but as a right or left-sided centre-back in a back three or back four numerous times. It shows that tactical shift Farke is undertaking this summer from predominantly using a 4-2-3-1.
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