According to Caughtoffside, Leicester City are plotting a move for Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff as a replacement for Super Eagles stalwart Wilfred Ndidi.
Longstaff’s contract with the Magpies ends in the summer of 2025, which means he could be available for a cheap price in the upcoming transfer window, if Newcastle don’t want him to leave for free.
The 26-year-old has been a regular for Eddie Howe’s side this term, starting 24 Premier League games and recording six goal involvements.
With Leicester City preparing for a return to the Premier League, Longstaff could be a good replacement for Ndidi given his experience and the quality he has shown at the St. James’ Park.
From all indications, the Nigeria international is spending his last season with the Foxes and competition for his services is already getting intense within and outside England.
West Ham are said to be eyeing him as a replacement for Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips while Crystal Palace,Tottenham Wolves and Aston Villa have him under their radar.
Barcelona and Juventus have also been credited with an interest in the Nigeria international and the list of suitors could grow longer in the coming days.
The report states that the Foxes are prepared to pay £15m for the 26-year-old, who bagged eight goals and two assists in 46 appearances over the 2023/24 season.
The Mirror claim Leicester have been tracking Longstaff for ‘several months’, with the newly-promoted side in need of midfield reinforcements; especially if out-of-contract Nigerian Wilfred Ndidi fails to sign a new deal this summer.
Not only could Longstaff be sold for ‘pure profit’ due to his club-trained status – something that would help us financially from an FFP/PSR perspective – this may be our last chance to land a decent fee, with his current contract due to expire in 12 months time, as things stand.
Eddie Howe is clearly a huge fan and has regularly defended the Geordie during his time as manager, but we must surely consider any £15m bid, if true. After all, I’d far rather sell the likes of Longstaff or Miguel Almiron than be cashing in on exciting talents like Yankuba Minteh before he’s even kicked a ball for the club.
Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff will reportedly be allowed to leave amid links with Leeds United and Leicester City this summer – but the two Championship promotion hopefuls will need to pay a premium price.
When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took over Newcastle in October 2021, the expectation was that they would be a new force in English football
While they have spent more than £400m on players since then, and qualified for the Champions League for 2023/24, the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules have shown more teeth in recent months – meaning top-flight teams cannot afford to lose more than £105m over three years.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have been hit with points deductions for breaching financial fair play rules and Newcastle CEO Darren Eales admitted in January the Magpies – who announced a loss of £73.4m for the 2022/23 financial year – could be forced to sell some of their biggest names to stay in line with the rules
