Leeds United could be set for imminent transfer boost with £70m deal

All the latest Leeds United transfer news as Daniel Farke looks to bolster his squad this summer

Leeds United could be about to get a huge boost to their hopes of signing Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road this summer as Daniel Farke gears up for the new Premier League season.

Longstaff, who recently entered the final year of his contract at St. James’ Park, only started eight games in the English top-flight last term, with none of them coming following the turn of the year. Playing a bit-part role in Eddie Howe’s side, he played no more than 800 minutes as the Magpies finished fifth and qualified for the Champions League.

Despite having rarely featured for the Magpies, the 27-year-old managed to attract interest from West Yorkshire. Leeds Live understands that the Premier League newcomers are long-term admirers of Longstaff.

Leeds have had three bids rejected for the Englishman, with the latest offer believed to be worth an initial £10m, plus a further £2m in potential add-ons. It’s understood that Newcastle are holding out for a greater fee than what the Whites have offered to ensure they remain compliant with profitability and sustainability (PSR) rules.

Leeds United have launched their new home shirt for the 2025/26 season as they celebrate a return to the Premier League.

Any fee for Longstaff would go down as ‘pure profit’ on the books, having earned his stripes in the Magpies academy. In the meantime, Eddie Howe appears to be lining up his next marquee signing of the summer.

According to the BBC, Newcastle have made a move to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. The report claims that the Magpies are exploring a potential deal for the 23-year-old striker, who could cost in excess of £70m.

While Ekitike could be viewed as a replacement for Alexander Isak, it’s said that the Tyneside outfit have no interest in selling their talisman. Last week, Newcastle signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £55m.

If the Magpies’ get their hands on Ekitike, their total spend for the summer will exceed well over £100m. Newcastle have only recorded one significant sale this window, with Juventus triggering the £20m obligation-to-buy clause which was inserted into Lloyd Kelly’s loan.

With the Magpies under pressure to navigate to the Premier League’s spending rules, they could be prepared to concede ground in the Longstaff negotiations. This would come as a huge boost for Leeds, who have been working hard to wrap up a deal.

The Whites will be on tenterhooks in the coming days, hoping that Howe’s side splash the cash again. Newcastle won’t want to cash in on any of their big names, so Longstaff would help them balance the books.

The Leeds target opened up on his future at Newcastle back in November. Speaking to the Chronicle, Longstaff said: “Yeah, if it’s here [Newcastle] it’s great. If it’s not, it’s not.

“I want to be valued as a player, I want to be appreciated as a player and whether it’s here great. If it’s not here and it’s somewhere else, it’ll be somewhere else.

“In a way I live day to day, game to game and I just try and take in every game. I get to go to work every day and spend it with my best friends, I don’t know what’s coming ahead.

“I don’t know what’s coming down the line. I just try to embrace every day and enjoy every minute because ultimately it won’t last forever.”