Sean Longstaff is set to sign a new contract with Newcastle just months after being linked with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.
According to The Times, Longstaff will extend his contract at St James’ Park to 2026 and confirmation looks to be close.
Longstaff’s contract was due to expire this summer and for a while, it had seemed as though he could leave his boyhood club.
Forest were keen on adding the central midfielder to their ranks during the January transfer window, with Everton also monitoring the situation.
In recent weeks, Longstaff has earned a Newcastle reprieve, however. Eddie Howe has given him some game time and convinced him to stay.
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The 24-year-old was particularly impressive during last week’s win over Arsenal and now he’ll extend his stay.
Longstaff is a product of the Newcastle academy and he’s worked his way towards becoming a first-team regular.
He has made 95 appearances for the Magpies and he might have proved a useful addition to the Forest ranks.
Should Forest win the play-off final on Sunday, Steve Cooper will undoubtedly want to add some Premier League experience.
Longstaff might have been a target for the Reds and they could now be forced into tweaking their transfer shortlist for the summer.
Longstaff set for new Newcastle contract and Forest would have welcomed him
Both Ryan Yates and James Garner have been magnificent in midfield this season.
After them, however, there isn’t a deal in reserve. Jack Colback has been playing left-back and Cafu has been acting as the option from the bench.
The Portuguese performer has done okay when called upon but you wouldn’t want to pin your hat on him for a run of games.
As a result, Longstaff might have been a useful addition to make.
In the summer, Garner will return to Manchester United and Forest might have fancied Longstaff on a free transfer.
Now, Cooper will have to go back to the drawing board, with the £23,000-a-week midfielder set to commit his future to Newcastle.