Sean Longstaff & Jacob Murphy 'in Discussions' Over New Newcastle Deals

Newcastle are said to be in discussions with winger Jacob Murphy and midfielder Sean Longstaff over extending their respective stays at St James' Park.

Longstaff has made more than 50 appearances for the club after taking the long road to the first-team via loan spells at Kilmarnock and Blackpool.

He has struggled to live up to the early promise that had him linked with a £50m move to Manchester United, but has gradually installed himself as an important player, starting their last four matches before their trip to Aston Villa was postponed thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Murphy, meanwhile, returned to the Magpies in the summer after a fruitful loan at Sheffield Wednesday and has been a semi-regular in the team since. He was left out on the bench for the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace but started their previous four league matches and is thought to be highly regarded by Steve Bruce.

As things stand, Murphy's deal is up in 2021 while Longstaff's expires a year later in 2022. According to The Chronicle, the club are keen to tie both players down, and are 'in discussions' over new terms.

In the case of Longstaff, there have been noises that he is keen to move on from St James' Park, and he could use his contract situation as leverage. He recently signed up to Pini Zahavi's agency, with the intention, the Daily Mail say, of engineering a move away from his boyhood club.

Newcastle are understandably reluctant to sell the 23-year-old but may be left with no choice should he continue to resist an extension. This summer will see him enter the final year of his deal, and they would be entitled to no compensation should he walk away when it expires 2022, given he will be 24 by then.

Tottenham are the club Zahavi has in his sights for Longstaff with the Israeli agent feeling Jose Mourinho would be keen on a move.