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West Ham want to sign Jonjo Shelvey in the summer transfer window, and Newcastle United would be foolish to stand in their way.

What's the story?

According to The Northern Echo, Shelvey is a target for Manuel Pellegrini this summer.

The report claims the Hammers made “a number of enquiries” during the January window, but their approaches were rejected.

Rafael Benitez was “extremely reluctant” to allow the midfielder to leave, claims the aforementioned report, but Pellegrini will come again for the 6-cap England international.

And Benitez won’t stop the move from happening this time, as the Spaniard has “doubts about his work rate and willingness to buy in to the team ethic” reports The Northern Echo.

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Boost for Longstaff

It’s not surprising that Benitez was desperate to hang on to Shelvey even despite the 27 year-old making just 14 appearances in all competitions this season.

At the time, Sean Longstaff had not really made the impression that he is going to be a long-term starter, which he now has, and Ki Sung-yueng was away on international duty and struggling with a hamstring injury.

Now though, the gaffer knows he has the full summer to replace Shelvey, and if the midfielder is not buying into his ideology then there is really no point keeping him around.

The Magpies should bleed West Ham dry for the ex-Liverpool midfield and put the money to good use in finding a long-term partner for Longstaff.

In fact, selling Shelvey might just be the best thing to ever happen to Longstaff, as the 21 year-old’s path to the first team was previously blocked by the ex-Liverpool ace, with both attempting to fill the same role in Benitez’s midfield.

If West Ham are so desperate to secure the long-shot master that they overpay the Magpies, providing the money is put to good use, it would pave the way for Longstaff to have an even better career than he already looks destined for.