Man United Opinion: Sean Longstaff would be a wonderful long-term investment for the Red Devils
According to reports from Metro, Man United have entered into initial talks with Newcastle United over a potential deal for youngster Sean Longstaff in the summer transfer window.
Metro understands that Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to sign him as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who is set to join PSG on a free transfer. As a result, the Norwegian has set his sights on the 21-year-old combative midfielder to fill in the Spaniard’s void.
A product of Newcastle’s youth system, Longstaff previously had loan stints at Kilmarnock and Blackpool before breaking into the first-team picture at Tyneside this season. The 21-year-old impressed manager Rafael Benitez in the pre-season tours last summer and was handed a 4-year contract back in November.
Longstaff made his senior debut as a substitute in a 4-0 defeat against Liverpool on Boxing Day and his first Premier League start came against Chelsea early in January. The youngster made an instant impact in the first- team and even forced more established players like Ki-Sung Yueng, Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame to start from the bench.
The 21-year-old put in a memorable performance and earned the penalty to help the Magpies to a 2-1 victory over Man City in January before scoring his first goal for the club in the FA Cup against Blackburn. That was followed by another goal in a 2-0 victory over Burnley before a knee ligament injury early in March prematurely ended his season.
Longstaff could have made a lot more impact in the Premier League had it not been for the injury but he has clearly shown that he has the potential to evolve into a top-class player in English football in the years to come. And his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Essentially a central midfielder by trade, Longstaff caught the eye earlier in the season with his energy, stamina, work-ethic and tough-tackling nature, whilst also impressing with his agility, sharpness, anticipation and good range of passing.
An aggressive player by nature, Longstaff plays with a touch of youthful exuberance and fearlessness- covering every blade of grass on the pitch to try and close down the spaces and never afraid to stick his foot out to win possession back for his team.
The youngster has good technical abilities as well. Calm and composed in possession, he tends to drive forward with aggression from a deep position in the midfield and also has the ability to retain the ball very well at his feet.
Longstaff’s ability to switch the play and set his team on the front foot with lovely cross-field passes is a rare trait amongst players of his age. Not only that, he has a good eye for goal from range, as evident from his incredible finish against Burnley.
To put things into perspective, Man United should look at Sean Longstaff as a good long-term investment and someone who could increase competition for places and maintain the balance of the squad.
United have no reason to be desperate to sign a replacement for Herrera given that that Spaniard’s departure would still leave Solskjaer with the likes of Nemanja Matic, Fred, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay as options in central and defensive midfield.
However, neither of the aforementioned players has been consistent enough and Longstaff’s presence would keep them on their toes as far as competition for places in the ranks is concerned.
Traditionally, United have a wonderful record of transforming little-known youngsters into first-team stars but that has changed over the last few years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, with Solskjaer now at the helm of affairs, the Red Devils should go back to their old traditional methods of building a strong platform for continued success season after season and Sean Longstaff is exactly the kind of player that they should be looking at.
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He won’t win United the Premier League next season but the Red Devils could have a gem on their hands if the 21-year-old goes on to realise his full potential in the years to follow.
