What does Matty Longstaff’s exit mean for Newcastle United’s transfer plans?

What’s the situation with Matty Longstaff?

The Geordie midfielder was in Scotland on Thursday to come to an agreement with Aberdeen over a season-long loan in the Scottish Premiership, which was eventually announced on Friday evening.

The Dons are managed by former United man Stephen Glass.

Why is Longstaff leaving?

His pathway to the first-team under Steve Bruce, the man who handed him his United debut, has been blocked. Minutes last season were scarce, with only a flurry of starts around the festive period to show for his 2020/21 campaign.

And it appears as if this season would be similar, with Bruce rarely calling on the player in pre-season, or in the opening weeks of the campaign. Longstaff was even an unused sub in the Carabao Cup defeat to Burnley on Wednesday night.

Is he a part of the club’s long-term plans?

That one is difficult to answer.

I’m sure the player has his doubts after a wasted year or so on the fringes at Newcastle, especially at such a crucial time in his development, but the fact the club were so keen to firstly hand him a new deal last summer and extend it this, adds some weight to the belief they do think he has a future on Tyneside.

What’s Steve Bruce had to say about Longstaff?

“It’s happened very, very quickly over the last couple of days. I think we’ve said now for a good couple of weeks it’s important for young Matty to play some football.

“He had a difficult year with one thing or another last year. It’s a great opportunity for him to go and play, it’s as simple as that.

“I certainly haven’t heard of the Championship interest. There might have been interest. Aberdeen have put their offer on the table, and it looks as if the kid’s going to accept it. The kid’s desperate to go and play football. Aberdeen’s a good club. Good luck to him.”

What does his exit mean for Newcastle United’s transfer plans?

Transfer expectations have been tempered by Bruce in recent days, although hopes remain that at least one loan can be struck before the window slams shut at 11pm on Tuesday.

And while Longstaff’s exit makes sense in terms of squad management, it does not outright impact on transfer plans.

While guidance is yet to be published publicly, it looks as if Premier League rules on under-21 players will see Longstaff fit outside of that group.

His date of birth is listed online as March 21, 2000. And using last season’s rules as a guide, it’s expected players born on or after January 1, 2000, will not have to be named in the 25-man Premier League squad.

So, in short, his exit does not free up a space in the squad.

The biggest obstacle in the way of incomings is the goalkeeper situation - with Karl Darlow’s recovery holding the key to whether United name three or four keepers in their ranks next season.

If, for example, a Mark Gillespie, or an other, is dropped from the group, then one space would be opened up for a new signing, with Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury at the top of the Magpies’ wanted list.