Manchester United are weighing up a move for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, it has been claimed.
According to Telegraph, Manchester United are poised to raid Newcastle United as they look to sign Sean Longstaff. The midfielder has been identified as one the top targets for Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer as he aims to build his squad around young British talent next season.
But what can Longstaff bring to the table for Manchester United? Here is a detailed SWOT analysis of the Newcastle United midfielder.
Strength
A central midfielder by trade, Longstaff is known for his industry in the middle of the park. He is adept at winning back possession for his team, largely thanks to his tackling prowess. In fact, he averaged an impressive 1.9 tackles per game in the recently concluded Premier League campaign.
Another key aspect of Longstaff’s game is that he is an excellent long-passer of the ball. He can either switch the play or deliver long diagonal passes from a defensive zone, thus easing his side’s overall transition and build-up play. This is increasingly becoming an extremely useful asset for a Premier League midfielder to possess.
Furthermore, the 21-year-old loves to drive forward and thread in through passes though they are not always that successful. Longstaff contributed 0.6 key passes per game in the 2018/19 campaign.
Weaknesses
Longstaff will need to improve on his general passing though if he is to thrive elsewhere, especially at one of the big clubs in Europe. While a pass completion rate of 80% seems rather impressive for a Newcastle midfielder as the team usually plays on the counter, most of them are vertical passes. And the youngster will surely need to learn to pass in between the lines if he is to make his mark at the highest level of football.
Another weakness in Longstaff’s game is his lack of aerial prowess. His rather small frame of 180cm is a huge disadvantage when it comes to headed duels as the midfielder has won only one aerial duel per game this past season.
Opportunities
With Ander Herrera leaving the club in the summer and Nemanja Matic struggling with form, it could be a huge opportunity for Longstaff to make his mark in the United first-team straightaway.
Paul Pogba has also been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, which could pave the way for both Longstaff and Scott McTominay to play prominent roles under Solskjaer next season.
Threats
Longstaff’s lack of experience in top flight football could make him a risky option for Manchester United and the team management will have to be clever in the way they handle his growth in case the move does go through. He will need to be given the security and freedom to express himself and try things out to develop at such a high level of operation. But other than that, he has the quality as well as the potential to be groomed into an ideal first-team player for the Red Devils.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored