Manchester United will make their first bid for Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff this week, according to the Football Insider.

The 21-year-old is a player that the Red Devils are keen on capturing, and they will likely make an opening offer of £18m in order to persuade the Magpies into selling.

United are said to be confident of making the deal happen, although Newcastle are believed to only be prepared to sell Longstaff for a substantial fee as they see him as a key first-team player.

The midfielder could, though, force the club’s hand if he wants a move to Old Trafford. He was asked about United’s interest a couple of weeks ago.

Longstaff said he was flattered to be linked with the Manchester club, but he remains committed to the Magpies:

“It just shows how far I’ve come. If someone told us at the start of the season that by the end of it you’d be linked with these teams I’d have laughed at them but it’s nice, it’s flattering.”

“I’m massively flattered to have my name even mentioned in those conversations but like I said, I’m 100% focused on Newcastle and trying to get fit and get back in the team here.”

Despite his growing reputation, Longstaff has made just nine Premier League appearances in his career, with the majority of his experience in senior football so far having been out on loan in League One and in the Scottish Premiership.