Newcastle on verge of big contract deal, announcement within days – report
By Danny Wright
Newcastle United are on the verge of agreeing terms with captain Jamaal Lascelles over a new contract, according to a report.
The Newcastle Chronicle claims that Lascelles, 24, will have a new deal announced by the club within the next few days after Rafa Benitez confirmed that he was “very close” to signing his new contract.
It is understood that two more players are in talks over new deals at St. James’ Park while the Times has recently reported that Mike Ashley is preparing negotiations with Benitez over extending his stay on Tyneside.
Lacelles has been in great form for Newcastle this season and has arguably been their best player in the opening Premier League fixtures.
It would no doubt be big news for the former Nottingham Forest defender to further commit himself to the Magpies and should the club captain agree terms to a new deal, others may follow suit.
The Chronicle also reports that England have sent their scouts out to cast the rule over Lascelles with a potential debut call-up to the national team on the horizon.
Gareth Southgate could certainly pick centre-backs in worse form than Lascelles at the moment.
Football Insider Verdict
Lascelles has been one of the top centre-backs not only at Newcastle but in the entire Premier League in the early fixtures this term. Few would have expected him to play so well but he 100 per cent deserves this new deal. He has the real ability to become a modern day hero at St. James’ Park and that’s no over-exaggeration. The captain’s armband carries a lot of pressure but Lascelles has taken it in his stride and is arguably a better player in the top-flight than he was in the Championship. After a poor summer, there will be a feel-good atmosphere at the club should Lascelles pen a deal and that may lead to other first-team stars doing the same.
In other Newcastle United news, the Magpies have jetted out to keep tabs on this £12million-rated attacker from a title-winning club.
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