Sean Longstaff is reportedly working on a new contract with Newcastle United.
In recent weeks, news spread that Sean Longstaff was signing with powerful agent Pini Zahavi. That led to speculation that he would be looking for a move away from Newcastle United. But, The Chronicle reported that the only focus for Longstaff is extending his stay on Tyneside. With that latest news, the question turns to is he deserving of a new contract at Newcastle? The answer is a little bit complicated.
Longstaff, as we know, burst on the scene in the 2018/19 season, and he was reportedly targeted by Manchester United the following summer. But, since then, he has never regained that form. There have been positive moments and even positive matches. However, there has been very little consistency when it comes to playing well.
Does he deserve to make more than he is right now? Possibly. But, there shouldn’t be a rush to give him a big pay increase. Unlike Matty, Sean’s younger brother, his contract isn’t running out. He is still locked in until the end of the 2021-2022 season.
The club should keep him on his current wages and force him to showcase some growth and a return to his top form on 2018/19. Also, Longstaff isn’t even a top-two midfielder right now for Newcastle.
Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden, both still in their 20s, should be the first-choice options and both are on long-term deals. The club also signed Jeff Hendrick to a long-term deal in the offseason and Matty is an option, too. Why hurry to give your third or fourth-best midfielder a raise two years before his deal is up?