Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is the subject of fresh interest from Everton going into the final few days of the transfer window.

But the North Shields lad is prepared to battle of his place and assess his situation later in the year. Longstaff has at least another year on his current contract after the club exercised an extension earlier this season.

With a Carabao Cup final in reach and the push for Champions League action next season, with more game-time on offer, this is not the time to be leaving Newcastle for the boyhood fan. However, should the Toffees put their money where their mouth is it would leave Newcastle with a big decision to make given any cash bid for the Academy product would be classed as pure profit.

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That would be tempting for Newcastle in some ways given their PSR plight but should the Magpies suffer any type of midfield injury crisis with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes or Joelinton, who is two yellow cards away from another suspension, they may rue losing Longstaff.

A fee of £12million was mooted by reporters on Merseyside yesterday for Longstaff. Everton have been rocked by a number of injuries, including a long-term setback for Orel Mangala in their game against Brighton, who could be out for six months.

Mangala signed from Olympique Lyonnais on transfer deadline day last summer and has made 21 appearances this term, scoring once in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4. His absence would therefore leave a significant void in Everton’s midfield, although James Garner had earlier come off the bench against the Seagulls for his first appearance since the goalless draw against Newcastle United on October 5 while they hope that Tim Iroegbunam, who also hasn’t featured since the Magpies stalemate, will not be far behind him. A new midfielder as well as a striker to replace injured duo Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja, remains on boss David Moyes' radar.

Speaking about Longstaff's short-term future, Eddie Howe recently said: "I think Sean is fighting for his place, and he has responded well to that challenge. It is very difficult for him and it is always very difficult for any player.

"You are competing for a place and you are seeing the team actually perform really well. We are really stable in midfield. The challenge for you then goes up. It is the same for all of our midfielders.

"The competition for places is so strong. You have six top players who all want to play, and if I go with that system, I can only pick three."

Now 27, Longstaff has made just eight starts in the Premier League this season following the return of Sandro Tonali from a global FIFA ban for illegal betting. He remains a firm favourite among Howe and his coaching team, however.