Time is running out for Newcastle United to negotiate a new deal with young star Matty Longstaff to keep him at the club for the long-term.
Longstaff’s contract at Newcastle expires on June 30 and, after some brilliant performances this season, he has gained a raft of admirers across the continent with the likes of Ajax and AC Milan having been linked with a move for the youngster.
Of course, Newcastle don’t want to lose Longstaff but, with the takeover saga rumbling on, things like contract issues and recruitment seem to have been put on hold until we have a conclusion – one way or the other.
With now just a matter of weeks remaining until the contract is up – what happens next? Does Mike Ashley have to deal with it? Do the prospective new owners and Ashley work together to solve it or do we just have to wait until the takeover is finalised? Nobody seems to know…
My guess would be that we will have to wait until we have a conclusion to the takeover saga before we see any sort of negotiations in terms of contracts and the likes. Longstaff isn’t the only one out of contract either – veteran striker Andy Carroll’s one year deal is up this summer too.
The fact is, our academy offers very little in terms of production these days. Matty Longstaff and his older brother Sean are the biggest success story to come out of the Newcastle academy in a long, long time. Who was the last academy graduate to nail down a starting XI place? Paul Dummett? That was nearly a decade ago…
The fact of the matter is, whoever the owner is – they need to get this lad to sign a new contract. If they don’t, we’re going to lose him for a measly £400k compensation and he’ll go to Everton or some such team before having a brilliant career…
Protect our youngsters. Sign him up.
For more like this, visit our news page here. Meanwhile, follow us on Twitter for more coverage of Newcastle United.