Kevin Phillips has backed Newcastle youngster Matty Longstaff to sign a new deal with Newcastle despite receiving a lucrative offer to join Italian side Udinese.
Speaking to football insider, Phillips said the Magpies “can’t afford” to let a player of Longstaff’s quality and potential leave in this way.
News broke earlier this week that Longstaff had been the recipient of an offer from Udinese which would see him earn £30,000 per week as well as a significant signing bonus.
By contrast, Newcastle had offered him £15,000 per week but, according to reports, have since upped their offer to Longstaff to £20,000 per week, but the youngster is “holding out” for £25,000.
“I am pretty sure that the player wants to stay at Newcastle and, from what I gather, his team and his agent have put a deal to the club that they think they are worth,” he told Football Insider.
“He wants it done as quickly as possible in case there is a takeover of managerial change.
“From the club’s point of view, you cannot afford to let good young players leave, especially for that sort of money.
“I would be very, very surprised if they do not come to some sort of agreement that is close to what the player is looking for.
“I hope that he ends up staying at Newcastle. It is always a tough one but I really hope that they put him on a decent contract and look after him.”
Longstaff’s contract is up at the end of this month so he will need to make a decision in the near future. He hasn’t been training with the squad in the last few days due to a muscle injury.
It’s an important time in his career and he has a very big decision to make in the near future. Fingers crossed he opts to stick around.
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