Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has suggested that Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff could be set to leave St James’ Park following the latest developments over his representatives.
Longstaff’s potential long-term future at Newcastle has been thrown into doubt, with the midfielder having switched agents to sign a deal with super-agent Pini Zahavi. His new representative will reportedly attempt to secure a move away from St James’ Park for the 23-year-old with him entering the final 18 months of his current deal, according to the Daily Mail.
The midfielder had been close to securing a new contract at St James’ Park last year before a serious knee injury halted any talks. The Magpies’ hierarchy believed the wage demands from his previous representatives were too high for them at that time.
It has now emerged that Longstaff’s new agent suggested he could have sorted out a move to Tottenham in the past and that a fresh attempt at swapping Tyneside for north London could be made now.
Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson suggested that Longstaff’s hookup with a new agent with so little time remaining on his current contract at Newcastle means that he is already beginning to think about moving on from the club.
The 41-year-old said: “Players swap agents for all different reasons. It could be something as simple as he wants a change of personnel.
“But, when you move to a so-called super agent with 18 months left on your contract it does not take a brain surgeon to work out that he might be looking to leave Newcastle soon.”
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It seems increasingly likely that Longstaff could be heading for a premature departure from St James’ Park, but it would be a surprise to see the Magpies sanction any potential move away for him in January barring any massive offers from another club. That is because they have already been stretched in midfield at times this season due to injuries and they need all their options available.
However, the 23-year-old could move on in the summer, with the midfielder having not been able to fully match the potential he showed when he first burst onto the scene and saw him labelled as ‘fabulous’ by Graeme Souness. So far this season, he has made just four Premier League starts, averaging 0.7 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per games, while he has maintained an 87% passing accuracy rate (Sofascore).
A move away might be the best option for him to revive his career and rediscover his best form, but it would be a gamble for someone like Tottenham to take him from the Magpies. It will therefore be interesting to see what happens with his long-term future and whether he gets a move away or runs down his contract further.
