Mixed contract news for Longstaff brothers
Newcastle United’s young midfielder, Matty Longstaff, will sign a new contract in the next few weeks, but older brother Sean has been told he needs to do more to earn a second deal in 12 months.
The emergence of the Longstaff brothers has been a huge boost for manager Steve Bruce, with Matty scoring the winner on his debut against Manchester United last month before starting the next two Premier League games. His deal expires at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old, who still lives with his parents, is desperate to stay at the club he has supported his whole life and will sign an extension, which will delight Bruce, who was responsible for fast-tracking the teenager into the team. But negotiations with his brother are more complicated as Sean signed a contract only last year that will keep him at St James’ Park until 2022. The Daily Telegraph understands that talks have stalled because the 22-year-old’s representatives want to make him one of the club’s top earners, which Newcastle are reluctant to do.
Bruce believes the player still has much to prove before he is given a huge pay rise and has argued he needs to earn it on the pitch, having started only six games this season. The manager is happy with the way Sean has played, but there is a feeling he is yet to hit the same heights as last season, when he broke into the first team and delivered a string of impressive performances. A serious knee injury stalled his progress and he has been in and out since.
The lack of progress is likely to alert Manchester United, who tried to sign him for £25million in the summer, only to be told the player was not for sale.