'All the money in China', 'Golden goose' - Newcastle fans rage over star's exit claims

Newcastle United fans have turned to social media to rage over a report claiming Chelsea are in a transfer hunt for star defender and club captain Jamaal Lascelles. Thursday saw the

London Evening Standard

claim on their website that

the reigning Premier League champions have been monitoring the progress of the former Nottingham Forest man since 2016, and will look to swoop for his signing in the summer in a bid to bolster their ageing back line with some young talent.

However, the Toon Army were less than impressed with the report, taking to Twitter to voice their worry that a big money bid would tempt owner Mike Ashley to sell up, the fans insisting on a price tag in excess of £50million if Chelsea were going to make an offer. Here,

Football Insider 

has rounded up a selection of the supporters' best tweets:

Lascelles has been a revelation at the heart of defence since his breakthrough in the doomed 2015/16 season, and was handed the captain's armband by manager Rafael Benitez for the club's campaign in the Championship, retaining it for the current season. He has turned out 24 times across all competitions on their return to the top flight, and committed his long term future to the Magpies back in October, putting pen to paper on a deal which will run until 2023. In other Newcastle United news,

fans were left raving over one outcast after he hit a major milestone.