STEVE BRUCE remains hopeful of tying down the Longstaff brothers to new long-term contracts – after Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie both agreed new three-year deals with the Magpies.

Shelvey and Ritchie’s new agreements were confirmed this morning, with the duo both having penned extensions that commit them to St James’ Park until 2023.

Attention now switches back to the Longstaff brothers, with talks with the academy products having stalled in the last few months.

Matty is out of contract in the summer, and Bruce recently admitted discussions with the midfielder and his representative had reached an “impasse”.

The younger of the two Longstaff brothers is free to speak to prospective employers based overseas, with Inter and AC Milan both having been linked with a possible move, but Bruce remains hopeful of a breakthrough.

He said: “They’re (Matty and Sean) talking with the club still, and we still hope there’ll be a positive outcome. Let’s hope that can be resolved as well.”

Talks are also ongoing with Federico Fernandez, Javier Manquillo and Karl Darlow, all of whom are currently due to become free agents in the summer.

Bruce said: “We’re hoping we can sit down with a few of them. Feddy (Federico Fernandez) has an option for another year and he’s been terrific. We’ll address what we have to do over the next few weeks. If we can get a couple of results quickly and know where we’re going to be next year, that’ll be better for all concerned.”

The Magpies boss is delighted to have tied down Shelvey and Ritchie, with the pair established as key members of the Newcastle squad.

He said: “We’re delighted. They’ve tied themselves up until 2023. They’ve been very good over the last few years for Newcastle. Thankfully, there’s been a really good conclusion. They’re a big make-up of the team and we’re delighted they’ve committed their future.

“The nucleus of the team got out of the Championship and it’s still here today. These two have been instrumental in the core group. I’m delighted they’ve committed their future. Let’s hope now we can get two or three others done as well.”

Having signed his new deal, Shelvey, who has made 130 appearances for the Magpies since joining from Swansea in January 2016, 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, who signed for the Magpies in the summer of 2016 and has made 139 appearances, scoring 22 goals, added: “It’s obviously something that I wanted. Since I came to the club, it's been a successful period and one that I want to continue being involved in. Hopefully, I can be part of the future.

“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.”