Lots of Everton supporters on social media have been urging Director of Football Marcel Brands to ‘take him’ following links to former Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.
According to The Chronicle, Everton and West Ham United have shown an interest in signing Longstaff this summer following the expiration of his contract with Newcastle.
Serie A side Udinese and Bundesliga outfit FC Schalke 04 have previously been touted as potential suitors for the England U19 international, while the Magpies are still keen to retain the 20-year-old despite seeing his deal expire last Friday night without new terms secured.
Newcastle had increased their offer to Longstaff to £20,000-per-week last month in the hope of retaining their academy graduate, having initially seen a £15,000-p/w, five-year deal rejected, but saw the improved contract rejected.
It was believed his head had been turned by an approach from Udinese who were willing to make the £4.5m-rated prospect their highest earner on £30,000-p/w terms, as well as handing Longstaff a £2million signing-on bonus.
The Rotherham-born midfielder had been earning just £850-per-week with Newcastle before those terms lapsed last week, allowing him to leave St. James’ Park with his next side having to pay just £350,000 in compensation for his development.
Longstaff made his Premier League debut last October against Manchester United in a game he scored the winning goal before going on to make a further eight top-flight outings, scoring once more and again coming against the Red Devils.
Lots of Everton fans would be supportive of Brands beating Udinese to the capture of Longstaff this summer should the England U19 international agree on moving to Goodison Park, where some believe he would be an improvement on Tom Davies.
Take him https://t.co/Nxot4oQQ4K
— Dom (@1878Dom) August 2, 2020
Id have him. Why not take a chance. Clear resale value
— Cam🌹 (@Monolini) August 2, 2020
Didn’t think it was possible to moan about signing a free agent 20 year old who’ll be on buttons but we’ve managed it https://t.co/X8921ceddU
— Adam (@AdamJ1878) August 2, 2020
Agreed, english, young and will be out to prove a point – in this market a free agent in a position we desperately need with resale value
— Elliot Chesters (@elliot_chesters) August 2, 2020
He’s better than Davies https://t.co/v1qi7TI1qo
— morgan (@mxrganhulme7) August 2, 2020
Is he a central midfielder? Worth a chance if we also signed a proven main target as well. As some have said he’s young and will have resale value. 💙
— C (@chughs67) August 2, 2020
Mental if you wouldn’t have him on a free https://t.co/WzK6L7Uyng
— 🕺🏼 (@paul1878___) August 2, 2020
Not all Everton supporters would like to see Longstaff turn out on Merseyside next season, as some feel alarm bells should be ringing given the 20-year-old has not already been snapped up.
— Lukas (@EfcLukas) August 2, 2020
massive swerve wudin get in unsys u23s.
— paul (@bramlymoore) August 2, 2020
No gracias. https://t.co/w382QizjKb
— Masonismo (@rmjosebas) August 2, 2020
Ha ha ha ha ha no thank a choo
— Barnesy1975 (@Barnesy19752) August 2, 2020
Every alarm bell in the world is ringing about this… at his age, if he was a good prospect he wouldn’t be out of contract. He would have already secured a move somewhere or extended his Newcastle contract https://t.co/aTUGg1xVwo
— Alfie’s Squad (@AlfiesSquad) August 2, 2020