Steve Bruce has a message for Manchester United over Sean Longstaff bid

Manchester United are interested in the 21-year-old midfielder, who broke into the first-team squad last season.

However, Bruce, appointed as head coach this week, said: “He’s a player we want to keep – he’s had a remarkable rise. He’s everything you would want in a player – big and athletic – and he handles the ball well.

“He is the type of player you want to build your team around. I’ve only seen him for a day, but he has had ab unbelievable rise. Very much reminds me of a Michael Carrick. I’m not aware that he’s going to Manchester United – I’m not aware of that at all.”

Longstaff is likely to be on the bench for the club’s Premier League Asia Trophy third-place game against West Ham United in Shanghai, China, today.