In 2019 Sean Longstaff was linked with a £50 million move to Manchester United, five years on he tells FourFourTwo ‘I’m happy it didn’t happen’

Sean Longstaff shoots during the Carabao Cup final in 2023
(Image credit: Getty Images)

In the summer of 2019 Sean Longstaff’s head was in a spin. A year before, hardly anyone knew his name but after breaking into Newcastle United’s first team towards the end of 2018, his mature performances in midfield began turning heads.

He became a regular starter under Rafa Benitez and talks of an England call-up reached a head on the eve of the March internationals. But in the penultimate game, vs Declan Rice’s West Ham, Longstaff badly injured his knee.

Declan Rice earned his first England call up a couple of days later while Longstaff lay on the treatment table. But the injury wasn’t enough to deter interest in the exciting midfield prospect. 

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A former goalkeeper, Ketch joined FourFourTwo as Deputy Editor in 2022 having worked across ChronicleLive, LeedsLive, Hull Daily Mail, YorkshireLive, Teesside Gazette and the Huddersfield Examiner as a Northern Football Editor. Prior to that he was the Senior Writer at BBC Match of the Day magazine. He has interviewed the likes of Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gareth Southgate and attended two World Cup finals and a Champions League final. He has been a Newcastle United season ticket holder since 2000 and has an expensive passion for collecting classic football shirts.

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