Manchester United transfer news: Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff flattered and overwhelmed by interest

The 21-year-old midfielder made just eight Premier League starts last season before a knee injury halted his breakthrough campaign early

Newcastle United’s talented young midfielder Sean Longstaff has admitted that the recent transfer speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United is overwhelming.

The 21-year-old midfielder made just eight Premier League starts last season before a knee injury halted his breakthrough campaign early, but that doesn’t seem to have detracted Solskjaer who has identified the player as a key target while he continues to reshape his squad.

“If somebody had said to be me a year ago I would be in this position, I would probably have laughed at them,” Longstaff said. “This time last year, I was deciding whether to go to League One on loan. A year on, you are seeing your name linked with one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

The Magpies are currently in the midst of a pre-season tour in Shanghai, where they will face West Ham on Saturday, and despite the pressures, and rapidly growing frustrations of fans surrounding the clubs lack of recent progress, Longstaff was seemingly keen to emphasise his contentment with the way, not only his career is progressing, but also the trajectory of his hometown club.

“For me, it is all a positive really. It gives you even more confidence. When I was in for a short amount of time, people took notice of me. It is flattering, but my job is at Newcastle. The new boss is coming in and it’s a clean slate for everybody – including me.

“I just get my head down and work on the pitch. Like anybody knows, you are no use to anybody if you aren’t fit.”