'That one's moving quite well', Eddie Howe on the next Newcastle United contract he hopes to announce

Sean Longstaff has been given further assurances from Eddie Howe that he does have a bright future at Newcastle United.

Howe is eager for Longstaff to sign the long-term contract offered to him in recent times and wants him to join Paul Dummett next season as one of the core of homegrown players at the first-team training base in Benton. Longstaff has been sitting on the same deal he signed back in 2018 before he'd even made his Premier League debut.

Contract talks broke down between Longstaff, Steve Bruce and former managing director Lee Charnley in 2019 and both parties took something of a standoff. Yet Howe is keen for Longstaff to remain on Tyneside.

The midfielder has interest from both home and abroad and will be one of the summer's notable free transfer releases if he does not sign on the dotted line soon.

Howe said: "I hope we can get a positive resolution with Sean. Hopefully, that one’s moving quite well – and in the right direction. But, obviously, until he’s signed the contract, I can’t say for definite."

And reflecting on the deal for Dummett, signed on Thursday night, Howe said: "Great, great personality, Newcastle through and through.

"Loves the club, loves everything connected with the club. I still think he's got a lot to offer on the pitch."