By Russell Edge

27th May, 2018 | 11:34am

Journalist: Newcastle handed major boost over West Ham pursuit of senior powerhouse

Newcastle United have been handed a major boost in their hopes of keeping captain and defender Jamaal Lascelles with their £30million price tag scaring Premier League rivals West Ham from making a swoop, according to a journalist.

The Sun reporter Alan Nixon reports on his personal Twitter account that the Magpies have slapped a hefty fee on the 24-year-old powerhouse’s head after his impressive campaign back in the top flight, leading his teammates to a 10th placed finish after securing promotion from the Championship.

The fee, which would be a huge profit on the £7million spent on securing the double signing of Lascelles and Karl Darlow from Nottingham Forest, is said to have resulted in West Ham lessening their interest, which will help Newcastle’s cause in keeping him this summer.

Football Insider verdict

The £30million seems a reasonable asking price for a proven Premier League defender who possesses impressive leadership qualities at such a young age. There are a whole host of Premier League sides who could do with someone of his stature and mentality in the dressing room and despite the mega-money price tag slapped on his head, there are going to be more than just West Ham interested in taking him away from St James’ Park this summer. Much of the defender’s future will rely on whether Rafael Benitez, the man who first entrusted him with the armband at Newcastle, is still there at the end of summer, and that is likely to be the case with a number of the club’s top stars. Still, West Ham will likely be looking elsewhere and that is one rival that the Magpies will not have to worry about any more.

In other Newcastle United news, there are key talks imminent after the club’s top brass held a meeting over the future.

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