STEVE BRUCE is hopeful of tying down both the Longstaff brothers – after Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie signed new Newcastle deals.
The Magpies boss admitted last month that talks with Matty – whose deal expires in the summer – had reached an ‘impasse’.
Shelvey and Ritchie have committed their futures to Newcastle after signing new dealsCredit: Instagram @NUFC
The 19-year-old midfielder is now free to talk to foreign clubs, with Milan giants Inter and AC both keeping tabs.
Older brother Sean’s deal does not run out until 2022 but talks over a new deal had broken down in recent months.
Shelvey and Ritchie have both signed two-year extensions at St. James’ Park until the summer of 2023.
On the Longstaff brothers, Bruce said: “They’re taking with the club and we still hope there’s a positive outcome. Let’s hope that can get resolved too.
“Sean has got something like two years left so there is no rush in that respect.
“We all know what I think of Matty and we are hoping we can get something sorted. We still have a few weeks and months.”
On Shelvey and Ritchie, he added: “I’m delighted. They have been very, very good over the last few years.
Bruce is hopeful of tying down the Longstaff brothers to new deals tooCredit: Getty – Contributor
“I’ve been lucky enough to inherit them and there has been a good conclusion to it. They are a big make up of the team and I am delighted they have committed.
“As I’ve said many times, the nucleus of the team that got out of the Championship is still here and those two have been instrumental in that.
“We all know Ritchie, there is never a dull day with him. And Jonjo is a very, very good player.
Shelvey has made 130 appearances for the Magpies since arriving from Swansea in January 2016.
He said: “It feels like a home. The people here, ever since I came to the club, have made me feel so welcome.
“I’ve had some good times and some bad times here, but it’s mainly good and it’s just an enjoyable place to come in and work, and the city in general has been really good for me.”
Ritchie joined from Bournemouth in the summer of 2016 and has scored 22 goals in 139 appearances.
He said: “It’s obviously something that I wanted. When you sign at a club, you want to go there and make an impact and if you can be part of that club moving forward for a long time, it’s something that is nice.
“I moved around in my younger years on loan but to come somewhere and get settled and be part of the progress of the football club is great.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
