Steve Bruce digs in over Newcastle United contract offer

The club has made an improved offer to the Longstaff, whose deal runs out this summer. However, the two sides are still understood to be some way apart.

Steve Bruce believes that the club has made the midfielder – who broke into his first-team squad last summer – a “wonderful” offer, and the only hope of a breakthrough seemingly lies with the proposed takeover of the club, which has been with the Premier League since April.

Asked for an update ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final, head coach Bruce said: “It’s the same as we are. The ball’s in young Matty’s hands. I’ve gone public with it. I think we’ve made him a wonderful offer. We’d love him to stay, but it’s their prerogative if they want to run down their contract. It’s up to Matty.”