Newcastle United star Sean Longstaff is tracking Everton’s search for a new manager as he waits to hear whether Rafa Benitez’s sacking will impact a late transfer to Goodison Park.
That’s according to The Athletic, who report figures within Goodison accept they must sign a new midfielder before Monday’s deadline. Injuries and poor form highlighted their lack of depth in the engine room during Benitez’s brief and ill-fated Toffees tenure.
Everton also sense they lack leadership in the core of the pitch, which has resulted in being overrun in matches. Duncan Ferguson saw that first-hand as interim manager against Aston Villa as Andre Gomes struggled with and without the ball.
Ferguson will likely look to make at least one last-ditch deal in the final days of the transfer window if Everton keep the Goodison hero on as their permanent manager. Frank Lampard may also seek reinforcements if Farhad Moshiri selects the Chelsea icon as Benitez’s heir.
Benitez had studied reuniting with his former Newcastle midfielder, Longstaff, at Everton in the mid-season transfer market. The Toon talent, who broke through under the Spaniard in 2018, is now waiting to see who replaces Benitez and whether it impacts a potential move.
It is likely that Longstaff’s hope of leaving Newcastle for Everton ended when Moshiri fired Benitez earlier this month. The 24-year-old played 13 times for the now-unemployed coach to earn a £25k-a-week contract. His terms are due to expire at the end of this season.
Newcastle’s Longstaff may offer Everton’s next manager a low-cost transfer option
Longstaff may offer Everton’s next manager a low-cost option for a last-ditch transfer given his expiring Newcastle contract. But the Toffees may also face Championship competition.
The Mirror (p72, 23/01) recently reported Nottingham Forest are plotting a £2m bid for the Newcastle-born technician. The sum is twice what Everton wanted to pay under Benitez for Longstaff’s transfer from Newcastle. Per the Daily Mail, the Toon rejected their £1m offer.
Ferguson or Lampard may not be as keen on the Magpies product as Benitez was. But the low cost associated with the summer free-agent, who Newcastle quoted Everton £10m for last summer per the Daily Mail, could see Longstaff’s name mentioned in the coming days.
Longstaff would offer whoever takes up the Goodison hot seat a player with strong traits a fresh start may revive. Michael Carrick saw that potential in his early days under Benitez.
“He is carving his own career out for himself and has got his own traits and strengths,” the Manchester United icon said, via Chronicle Live, in 2019.
“He is obviously a fantastic talent and doing well at the moment. He’s still very young. In terms of Premier League games, he hasn’t played an awful lot of games. But the future is obviously bright for him.”
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