Leeds United ‘prepared to pay’ £15m for Newcastle United man in potential FFP boost
This summer, Leeds United is reportedly willing to spend £15 million to get Sean Longstaff.
From the arrival of Eddie Howe, the North Shields native has consistently supported Newcastle United. A busy injury list and Sandro Tonali’s suspension have provided Longstaff game time this season, despite the expectation of many that he would play a bit-part role.
Starting with Bruno Gumaraes and Lewis Miley, Howe has led Longstaff in all of the team’s Premier League games since December 12. On the other hand, Longstaff’s form and Joe Willock’s comeback have raised concerns regarding his position.
Since the 26-year-old has been counted on, the Magpies have fallen in the standings and his performances have drawn criticism. Howe defended Longstaff during a questioning by the media before the FA Cup loss to Manchester City by stating that the player has been playing with a bothersome injury since April of last year.
However, a story that surfaced via The Yorkshire Post and the Sunday Mirror now suggests that the Magpies might make a profit on the midfield player.According to The Mirror, Leeds United is monitoring Longstaff’s employment status at St. James’ Park.
Despite Howe’s desire to keep him, he has just over a year left on his current contract and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of improvement. It is also mentioned in the report that Newcastle might be open to accepting an offer of about £15 million, which is within Leeds’ means whether or not they are promoted.
It would also be advantageous for FFP/PSR regulations to market Longstaff as an academy product. Receiving money for the midfield player could release more spending power because young players have no book value.
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Given that White, 26, has often cruised through Championship games—albeit at center-back rather than right-back—it is not at all strange to see him performing so effectively at Arsenal.
Leeds made multiple high-profile efforts to permanently recruit White from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020, but the Seagulls turned them all down and sold him for £50 million the following year. There was undoubtedly a reason for this.
Throughout his career, White has had the chance to work with a number of elite coaches, Marcelo Bielsa undoubtedly being one of them. Bielsa significantly contributed to him raising his level of play.
White played both central defence and midfield under Bielsa. Journalist Rory Smith discussed what he once saw about the Arsenal player at Leeds that indicated he would succeed in an interview on the most recent episode of BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
White’s education under Bielsa has helped Arteta adaptation
He said: “My most impressive Ben White moment, I remember going to see Leeds in the year they got promoted, and it was at the end of the season in the bit after Covid. The stadium was empty, it was when Bielsa was at Leeds and Ben White started the game at centre half.
“Can’t remember who Leeds were playing but I think they had to win to get within two points of promotion or something. He started at centre half and it wasn’t really working in attack so Bielsa started changing it.
“There was a five minute period where Ben White had to play in four different positions and you could hear what Bielsa was shouting at him. After a while he looked completely non plussed, had no idea where he was meant to be but did as he was told and every time in the two minutes in which he had the ball he looked completely comfortable wherever he sent him.
“You could tell then he was clearly head and shoulders above most of the players on the pitch. He just looked like a hugely talented footballer.”
White played centre back in his first season at Arsenal, but he has spent the previous 1.5 years at full back, where he has been increasingly effective and has looked the part.
If he hadn’t spent that time under Bielsa paying such close attention to detail, he might not have adjusted to these shifts in position at the Emirates with such ease.
