Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle United are already missing Sean Longstaff after selling him to Leeds United.
Leeds have signed Longstaff in a deal that could reach £15million, bringing an end to his long-running association with Newcastle United.
Longstaff made 214 appearances for his boyhood club and lived the dream on Tyneside, but that story is now over.
It is a shame to see him depart, although there are obvious financial benefits. The club will bank every penny they’ve received for Longstaff, with his status as a Newcastle United academy graduate meaning his sale goes down on as ‘pure profit’ on the club’s balance sheet.
Still, his exit leaves the Newcastle United squad somewhat light and Howe has confirmed he didn’t want Longstaff to go.
Eddie Howe didn’t want to sell Sean Longstaff at Newcastle
Howe was speaking after a dreadful pre-season opener for Newcastle.
Indeed, Newcastle lost 4-0 to Celtic in their first official game of the summer, while Alexander Isak was sent home from Parkhead amid so much speculation about his future.
After the game, the Newcastle United manager was asked about Longstaff and what his exit meant for the club.
“Sean was someone I never wanted to lose from the squad,” he said (via The Chronicle).
- READ MORE: How Sean Longstaff played on his quick-fire debut for Leeds after leaving Newcastle United
“But as we know, and I have said many times, finances, PSR, long-term planning mean that sometimes these decisions have to be taken.”
He added: “Sean is a big miss from our squad. Sean was very, very popular in the dressing room, very popular on the pitch.
“He did a great job and tactically understood everything that we needed him to do.
“Days like Celtic, when you are putting two XIs out, you really see his absence highlighted. He goes with our best wishes and he’s been an incredible servant to Newcastle. But we have to move on now without him.”
Newcastle United may not replace Sean Longstaff
Transfer insider Graeme Bailey has told Geordie Boot Boys that Newcastle may not sign a direct replacement for Longstaff.
While Newcastle are looking into the market, the fact that they have both Joe Willock and Lewis Miley as options for Howe behind the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali could mean a midfield signing is not quite as pressing as the need to strengthen elsewhere.
“I believe that Longstaff’s departure merely means they go with Miley and Willock – they are looking at midfield but a direct replacement might not be needed,” he said.
That feels like a risk. It would only take two injuries to leave Newcastle’s midfield significantly weaker than it usually is.
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