Alan Shearer has a warning for Matty Longstaff as he considers Newcastle United offer

The 20-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month – and is wanted by Udinese.

Newcastle are still hopeful of persuading the midfielder to stay at St James’s Park, and Longstaff, for his part, has been waiting on the proposed takeover of the club.

It’s been reported that the club has made an improved offer to Longstaff, and former United striker Shearer, writing in the Sun, says it would be a "huge gamble" if he left the club.

“I’m struggling to get my head around Matty Longstaff’s situation,” said Shearer. “If he leaves at the end of his contract, it will be a great shame, because he’s a local boy – and you don’t know what’s around the corner with the looming takeover.

“For someone who has started just six league games, it would be a huge gamble to move to Udinese, and I really hope it doesn’t backfire for him

“If the figures we’re hearing are correct, then Newcastle have put a very good offer on the table.

“I understand their stance, because you’ve got a 20-year-old who has not played much and wasn’t even in the equation at the beginning of the season.

“They feel they’ve offered him a lot of money, with increases going up and up each year, which he or his agent clearly doesn’t think is enough.

“I’m sure there is more behind it than we may know but it’s a big risk for a local boy to leave the area and his football club for a team in Italy that could be relegated.

“Longstaff must have his individual reasons as to why he is choosing to leave his club. If he sees himself down the pecking order, then it’s up to him to make himself first choice.

“If you’ve got the belief in your ability, then you will turn that around, and you will eventually become a regular starter.

“There’s still a little bit of hope he will stay but it’s sounding increasingly unlikely now – and what a shame both for Longstaff and Newcastle United.”