Newcastle United have ‘matched’ club’s salary offer to player – Magpies with good chance of keeping him

Udinese are starting to give up on the idea of signing Matty Longstaff. That’s according to TuttoUdinese, who say the potential transfer has become ‘complicated’.

If taking the Magpies player as a free agent, Udinese would only have to pay training compensation, which wouldn’t really amount to much. Their plan was to offer big wages, with some claims even putting the amount at €30k per week.

Several Italian reports suggested such a salary was far too high for Udinese, and that it seemed like they’d be signing Longstaff to then send him to Watford, with both clubs owned by the Pozzo family.

That plan has now hit serious problems, with TuttoUdinese reporting Newcastle have matched the salary offer. Signing Longstaff now looks so complicated that the Serie A side are moving forward and going for other options.

One of those is Tommaso Pobega, who is owned by AC Milan and on loan at Pordenone in Serie B. Udinese have made a €5m offer, with Milan holding out for €7m.