Steve Bruce reveals what he's told Matty Longstaff as he considers Newcastle United contract offer

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Matty Longstaff’s Newcastle United future is on the line.

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the month, but he has verbally agreed to a short-term extension so he can complete the season.

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Newcastle have made an improved offer to the 20-year-old, who broke into Steve Bruce’s squad last summer and went on to score home and away against Manchester United.

Bruce has spoken to Longstaff – who is wanted by Italian club Udinese – about his future in the hope of persuading him to sign the deal.

However, the terms on offer are understood to still fall short of what’s on offer elsewhere, and the odds are seemingly against Longstaff staying at St James’s Park unless the proposed £300million takeover of the club is approved by the Premier League.

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“I’ve had a conversation with him,” said head coach Bruce. “Ultimately, I’m sure there will be other people outside having other conversations with him.

“I know that the club have offered him a fantastic contract for a young player who has just burst onto the scene. So mine is all about the opportunity and what is front of him in his career path.

“I’ve been the one that put him in the team and gave him his debut. It was wonderful how he took it, but he’s a young player who’s not a first-team regular.

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Matty Longstaff.Matty Longstaff.
Matty Longstaff.

“I’m desperate for him to stay – he’s a Newcastle boy, he’s Newcastle through and through – let’s hope we can get it over the line, and let’s hope Matty thinks the same way too.

“I’m sure there are other influences outside the club which might be saying otherwise. In my opinion, this is the club for him – he’s seen a way through very quickly. Let’s hope he can commit to it.

“We hope he is going to commit himself to Newcastle going forward.

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“I’m sure his head might be turned by this, that or the other. We have to convince him on the football side that his future should lie here."

Longstaff will miss Sunday’s behind-closed-doors Premier League game against Sheffield United with a thigh injury.