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Kevin Phillips has expressed surprise at Everton’s reported interest in Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.
The former Premier League Golden Boot winner was speaking to Football Insider.
The lowdown
The Liverpool Echo‘s Phil Kirkbride reported last week that new Everton manager Rafael Benitez was keen on a reunion with Longstaff at Goodison Park.
The midfielder made his breakthrough under Benitez during the 2018/19 season. Within weeks of his Premier League debut against Liverpool, he earned a run of eight straight starts which was only halted by injury.
Benitez left the club at the end of that campaign but ‘preliminary discussions’ have now taken place over a possible swoop for the 23-year-old.
Longstaff made 15 league starts under Steve Bruce last season, averaging 2.3 accurate long balls, 1.4 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game (via WhoScored).
With less than 12 months remaining on his contract at St James’ Park, he is valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt.
The latest
Phillips pointed out that Benitez has already rekindled one relationship at Everton, having brought in former Magpies winger Andros Townsend.
However, even though the Spaniard ‘obviously likes’ Longstaff, the ex-Sunderland striker cast doubt on the wisdom of pursuing the deal.
Phillips told Football Insider: “Do I think Everton need him? Possibly not. Benitez is going down that route though, he’s already signed Andros Townsend and he had him at Newcastle.
“Longstaff hasn’t played loads of Premier League games but he does have that experience.
“I’m surprised Benitez is in for him but he obviously likes him and Longstaff played well under him,” he continued.
“It’s a surprising one, I’m not sure Everton need him.”
The verdict
In Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton already have an excellent midfield.
Clearly, they also need depth: a pair of muscle injuries befell Allan last season and the Blues looked considerably weaker in his absence.
However, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin has now returned from his long injury absence, and he may be a more natural replacement for Allan than Longstaff. Tom Davies can also be called upon in that role.
You can therefore understand why Phillips would question the decision to spend potentially more than £10m to sign another central midfielder, particularly when Everton are under such tight financial constraints this summer.
In other news, some Everton fans react to reported interest in this Euro 2020 star.
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