The amazing £50 million Newcastle United-Leeds exchange proposal that would benefit both parties
Newcastle and Leeds United are about to embark on a weekend that might have a significant impact on their summer recruitment intentions.
All eyes are on the FA Cup Final for Newcastle, as Eddie Howe’s side knows they will qualify for the Europa Conference League if Manchester City defeats local rivals Manchester United for the second year in a row at Wembley Stadium. Although UEFA’s secondary cup tournament lacks the glamour and riches of the Champions League, it will provide the St. James’ Park administration with some clout in what appears to be another potentially important summer in the transfer market.
Newcastle’s fights with UEFA’s financial fair play rules and the Premier League’s profit and sustainability criteria have been well documented in recent months, and they will continue to have an impact on how the Magpies build their team in the future years. There have been suggestions that veterans such as Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett could be given short-term contracts to help Howe deal with an increased match schedule.
However, Howe and the Magpies’ owners must make some tough decisions as one academy product approaches a watershed moment in his career with his hometown club. Almost six years after breaking into the United first team, Sean Longstaff will enter the final year of his current contract at St. James’ Park this summer, forcing him to make a critical decision about his long-term future. A summer sale would eliminate the risk of losing an academy graduate for nothing next summer while also representing ‘pure profit’ on the Magpies’ financial sheet.
alongside Sandro Tonali’s return after a long-term ban, he will compete alongside Joelinton, Lewis Miley, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, and Bruno Guimaraes for a place in the starting eleven.
Intriguingly, Longstaff is apparently one target being considered by Leeds if they are successful in getting an instant return to the Premier League, which is why the Whites, like Newcastle, are preparing for a key weekend. Daniel Farke’s team will face Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with the victors claiming a huge pot of money and a return to the top tier as the losers confront a summer of likely departures to fill a financial hole.
Some sources say Leeds will have to execute a fire sale if they lose on Sunday, with the Daily Mail estimating they will need to raise roughly £100 million in player sales if that happens.
Fortunately, if such a word can be used in this instance, Leeds do have a number of attractive assets that could be sold to make up some of the shortfall and the likes of Illan Meslier, Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville all likely to attract interest from clubs in English football’s top tier and around Europe. It is the latter of that quintet that is already the subject of intense speculation as the former Dutch Under-21 international is reportedly on the wish list of Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle ahead of the summer transfer window – although a Leeds win at Wembley would increase their chances of retaining the services of their prize asset.
However, with Newcastle’s desire to increase their quality in wide positions and Longstaff’s current contract situation, could a perfect storm be brewing with the Magpies midfielder heading to Elland Road and Summerville moving in the opposite direction. Such things are easier said than done and given the reported £20m price tag on Longstaff’s head, it is highly likely Newcastle would have to pay an additional fee for the Whites star – but it could still be a deal that would work for both parties no matter how fortune favours them this coming weekend.
