An update has emerged on Everton target Sean Longstaff, regarding how much Newcastle want for the midfielder.

What's the talk?

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are demanding a £10m fee for Everton transfer target Sean Longstaff as they attempt to cash in on the midfielder before he departs on a free transfer next summer.

The report claims that Everton and Southampton are both showing an interest in his services, with Rafa Benitez keen on a reunion with the 23-year-old.

Goodison nightmare

Marcel Brands must avoid a Goodison Park nightmare following this update. The Toffees chief would risk making the Everton faithful red with rage if he decided to splash £10m on Longstaff before the end of the transfer window this month.

For starters, paying £10m to a Premier League rival for a player who is in the final year of his contract does not seem financially prudent. The report states that he is not in talks to sign an extension at St. James' Park, which means that Everton could wait until next summer and sign him for nothing, saving themselves from having to spend £10m.

However, it may not be a good deal for Everton even if they can land him on a free transfer. The 23-year-old has been abysmal for Newcastle over the past two seasons, averaging WhoScored ratings of 6.37 and 6.36 in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns respectively. In those two years, he started 29 games combined and scored once from midfield.

This means that he was not a regular starter for the Magpies and struggled on the pitch when given the opportunity to show what he can do. So, why should Everton sign a player who was not a consistent starter for a club they finished 14 points higher than last season? It would leave the Toffees fans red with rage if Brands and Benitez sanctioned a £10m deal for a player who appears to be a poor option at Premier League level on paper.

Tom Davies, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan and Andre Gomes all averaged WhoScored ratings of 6.46 or higher in the Premier League. Given they are all playing in the same competition, this suggests that Longstaff would not be an upgrade on any of Everton's existing midfield options, which is another reason why the supporters would be absolutely livid with the club if they bring him to Goodison.

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