Lee Clark urges Newcastle to keep hold of Matty Longstaff

 

Newcastle United legend Lee Clarke has said that it would be disastrous, if the Magpies are unable to keep hold of Matty Longstaff. The 20-year-old made his breakthrough with the senior squad earlier this season and he made the headlines on his Premier League debut with the winning goal against Manchester United.

He has since been sparingly used in the top-flight due to the competition for places and there are now doubts whether he would stay put with the club beyond the summer. The midfielder’s current deal expires at the end of June and so far, there has been no agreement in place to prolong his stay with the club.

Speaking to Tribal Football, Clark said that it would be disastrous for the Tyneside outfit to let go of Longstaff, who has developed through the club’s ranks, he told: “Disastrous. That’s what it will be for Newcastle if they let Matty Longstaff leave. He’s a local lad and a very, very talented player. He has shown outstanding promise in the few games he has played and the club is based on a tradition where the local players are the heartbeat of the football club. The fans have took to him and his brother Sean and if they want to lose one of those for whatever reason it’ll be a disastrous move.”

Longstaff could sign a short-term extension with the Magpies until July such that he can play out the remaining games of the Premier League campaign. Still, there is no clarity whether he would remain with the club next term, particularly with the interest from Udinese. The Serie A outfit are prepared to offer Longstaff a salary package of around £30,000-a-week and the Magpies have yet to match the figure amid the uncertainty over the proposed takeover from the Saudi-based consortium.