Everton are holding internal discussions over a potential summer transfer for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff under Rafa Benitez’s request, per the Liverpool Echo.
The Toffees boss hopes to make three or four signings before the August 31 deadline hits. Benitez has already added three players since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with Asmir Begovic, Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray acquired.
Benitez now wants to add another central midfielder and has eyes on right-back and wide-forward options. The Spaniard would also like an experienced striker to support last term’s top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, despite having Richarlison, Moise Kean and Cenk Tosun.
Longstaff could be a midfield option for Everton as Benitez retained his admiration from his time in charge at Newcastle. He handed the 23-year-old his Premier League debut with the Toon, whilst starting 12 of 13 outings in all competitions, scoring twice and assisting once.
Newcastle also awarded Longstaff a £25,000-per-week contract in December 2018 after his senior breakthrough under Benitez. Talks over another pay rise began in March 2019, but The Shields Gazette note talks were still ongoing over last winter and no terms are agreed.
Newcastle now face a decision amid interest from Everton under Benitez with Longstaff in the final year of his contract. The Times reported recently that a move to Goodison Park could materialise, as well, but no value has been mooted.
Everton boss Benitez a big fan of Newcastle midfielder Longstaff
Benitez saw Longstaff’s potential from an early stage at Newcastle when he promoted him from the U23s for the first-team. The Spaniard admired the technical range the Toon talent showed in the youth set-up, and believed he could represent England.
“Sean wouldn’t look out of place with England. There are not too many young English players with his quality,” Benitez said, via The Guardian, in 2019. Before adding: “I saw Sean in [U23s] training and I saw how good he was technically.
“He was doing right-foot, left-foot finishes into the bottom corner. His vision is good, there are just a few things he has to improve, but he listens to us and is learning quickly. He’s someone who is normally calm under pressure and that’s a good thing for a midfielder.”
But a season-ending knee ligament injury derailed Longstaff’s development in March 2019. He also failed to recapture the form displayed under Benitez once Steve Bruce took charge that summer. Now, Everton could target a deal with Newcastle.
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