Transfer Rumors: Udinese Calcio Hopes Second Time's A Charm For Newcastle United Target

Udinese Calcio tried to snag Matty Longstaff from Newcastle United last summer, but they fell short of their pursuit.

It appears the Udinese kept the 21-year-old on their radar and is now reportedly planning to try again.

In a report from Corriere Dello Sport, Udinese is interested in a move for the young footballer and that the Englishman was never taken out of their wish list.

Longstaff had rejected a five-year offer from Udinese, opting to stick it out at St. James Park.

This time, it remains to be seen if Longstaff will have a change of heart. He is under contract until 2022, and there are several teams interested in taking in the English midfielder.

Among those clubs interested in Longstaff include Derby County who is allegedly willing to take him in on loan.

Targeting Matty Longstaff is understandable. He has shown promise, especially when he debuted for the Magpies. That included a great performance against Manchester United.

Beyond scoring, Longstaff also had the fifth-best past accuracy per game. He started in just six matches, but it was evident that the English footballer is someone who has potential.

Given that Longstaff is young and has shown potential, it would be hard to see the Magpies letting him walk.

He has become an integral part of Newcastle United’s midfield, and the best to expect is a loan spell at the most.

Unless Udinese is willing to take in Longstaff via that route, Derby County could have the inside track.

But the important thing to note here is that he needs to play for his game to evolve. Under manager Steve Bruce, the midfielder was sorely overlooked last season.

Regardless, it is believed that Longstaff prefers to stay with his boyhood club if given the choice.

But if a good offer is given by Udinese or some other club, the English footballer could find himself playing elsewhere.

Udinese could pay Newcastle United about £400,000 ($564,980) because of his age.

The club appears to be willing to shell out the cash, but critics feel that he would be a promising talent that the Magpies may regret dealing away.