Everton remain interested in Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder. 

The lowdown

It was Rafael Benitez, now Everton boss of course, who handed Longstaff his first-team breakthrough at St James' Park in 2018/19.

Longstaff, an academy graduate, is now into the final 12 months of his contract at the club after a two-year pause in negotiations. He's valued at £13.5million by Transfermarkt, but it's unclear how high a fee Newcastle could extract.

The 23-year-old has featured in all four of Newcastle's matches so far in 2021/22, starting in the 2-2 draw with Southampton on Saturday.

The latest

Ryder reports that Benitez is still keen on the possibility of a reunion with Longstaff, and that he's 'acutely aware' of his contract situation.

Steve Bruce knows that he must move a player on to pave the way for a loan signing, and Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury is in Newcastle's sights.

The verdict

Everton have an excellent midfield partnership already in the form of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Tom Davies and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, provided he can finally overcome his persistent injury problems, offer good cover.

And so Everton's priorities should probably lie elsewhere on Deadline Day. A back-up right-back and a deputy for Dominic Calvert-Lewin following Moise Kean's departure should be top of their shopping list.

In other news, fans have called for the Toffees to make this signing.