What Sean Longstaff has told Newcastle United as Leeds United close in on £12m deal

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Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is reportedly close to signing for Leeds United, ending a 20-year stay with his boyhood club.

After losing his place in the starting XI to Sandro Tonali last season, the writing was on the wall for the 27-year-old who came through the academy on Tyneside.

Sean Longstaff has reportedly agreed personal terms with newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United, meaning his days as a Newcastle United player are coming to an end.

Despite losing his place in the starting XI, Tonali thinks Longstaff is seriously underrated and will likely be disappointed to see him go. However, it is clear that the deal has to happen if he wants to be part of a starting line-up in the Premier League.

Longstaff is open to staying at Newcastle, but has ultimately realised that the 2024/25 campaign is likely his last with the Magpies.

With Leeds closing in on a £12m deal for Longstaff, a new report has shared what the midfielder has told club officials about the deal.

• Who is Sean Longstaff? The homegrown Carabao Cup winner who departed Newcastle United

Sean Longstaff does not want to leave Newcastle United for free

Despite initial links, Everton fans did not want to sign Longstaff. Their pleas have been heard and it is now likely that he signs for Leeds instead.

The report came shortly after it was confirmed that Newcastle had agreed a £55m deal for Anthony Elanga. Newcastle finally have a major signing, but it looks like it will be a case of one in, one out on Tyneside.

According to The Athletic, Longstaff does not want to leave Newcastle on a free transfer next summer. Instead, the midfielder wants the Magpies to get a transfer fee for him, as it represents pure profit due to his academy roots.

Longstaff is in the final 12 months of his contract, so the Magpies are at risk of receiving no money for him whatsoever if he is not sold this summer. The report also states that the deal is £10m up-front with an extra £2m in add-ons.

• READ MORE – Newcastle United fans already have a new chant for Anthony Elanga as £55m deal is agreed

Sean Longstaff leaving Newcastle United gives Eddie Howe major headache

It is clear that Longstaff was not a major part of Howe’s first-team plans next season. However, the North Shields-raised star still had his usefulness to the Magpies.

Since Longstaff came through the academy, he is classified as club-trained. UEFA rules specify that clubs in the European competitions must have at least four club-trained players in their squad or risk losing places.

As it stands, Longstaff is Newcastle’s only club-trained player, so Howe is at risk of losing four spaces in his 25-man Champions League squad.

Consequently, Newcastle will likely have to leave valuable squad players out for the Champions League in favour of players with much more quality.

Howe can look to his younger players to fill the gaps, but he will ideally want to have more experienced players in his squad for Newcastle’s return to Europe’s top competition.