Leeds United plot Newcastle United transfer raid amid Ethan Ampadu exit talk | OneFootball

Following promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.

As they chase the Championship title this season, Leeds United have now been linked with another midfielder for next season with Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff a rumoured target for the Whites.

It has been a bit of a whirlwind for Leeds following their automatic promotion back to the top-flight being confirmed on Easter Monday with reports that Daniel Farke may be sacked anyway and the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Roger Schmidt and Davide Ancelotti being linked with the job.

As well as the uncertainty in the dugout, Leeds have also seen key players such as captain Ethan Ampadu, as well as Mateo Joseph, linked with a move to West Ham United.

Another rumour coming out of Elland Road is that, according to The i Paper, Leeds are interested in Newcastle’s 27-year-old box-to-box midfielder Longstaff, who has one year left on his deal at St James’ Park.

As they prepare for a return to the Premier League, there appears to be a lot of sorting out to do in West Yorkshire but Longstaff is potentially one target that would fit the bill for what they are after.

Longstaff’s Premier League nous

Leeds’ data-led recruitment policy of the last couple of seasons wasn’t necessarily scrapped last summer but was tweaked as Farke pushed for more hardened professionals that perhaps wouldn’t feel the pressure of the big moment, which had been the perception in their collapse the previous season.

That saw the likes of Alex Cairns and Joe Rothwell brought in, not necessarily as first-team starters, and that is certainly not the case for Cairns, but players to be in the squad to almost emotionally manage certain situations.

When going into the Premier League there then has to be a balance between maybe sacrificing a bit of quality in exchange for an improved mentality, or at least a better understanding of the club, the league and the situation.

Longstaff would appear to fit that bill. The North Shields-born midfielder came through the academy at Newcastle and they remain his only ever permanent club despite loan stints at Kilmarnock and Blackpool.

Aside from Longstaff, Leeds have also been linked with several other midfield options such as Sporting CP’s Hidemasa Morita, West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Germany international Julian Weigl – as well as a return for Kalvin Phillips.

The links to Soucek are interesting because of the suggestions that the Irons want Ampadu and Joseph. The amount of midfielder linked to Leeds is unusual given that the possible arrival of Soucek would seem sufficient enough for them to focus on other areas of the pitch – unless there was to be a departure or two.

Uncertainty not affecting Leeds or Farke

Despite the uncertainty at Elland Road following a remarkably impressive campaign in which they held their nerve and remained dominant to the very end, Leeds are not showing signs that it is affecting them.

They hammered play-off contenders Bristol City by four goals to nil in their final home game of the season on Monday to go back above Burnley at the top of the Championship table.

Heading into the final day of the season this weekend, Leeds sit above the Clarets on goal difference, both having collected 97 points and both on course for three figures should they win on the final day.

Leeds’ superior goal difference gives them a massive advantage as they know that if they match Burnley’s result at the weekend then they will be crowned champions having notched a staggering 93 goals in 45 games thus far.