Newcastle United defender and captain Jamaal Lascelles has been lined up by Serie A outfit Lazio as a transfer target for this summer, according to Il Messaggero.
The Italian publication claim on their website that the Magpies powerhouse, who was handed the captaincy by manager Rafael Benitez back in 2016 and is a regular among the starting XI, has been valued at around £12.4million (€14million) by Lazio as they look to beef up their back line.
It is stated that Arsenal’s Callum Chambers is another option for the Italians as they target young but experienced defenders, Lascelles having played 34 times during the 2018/19 season and 137 games in total, 83 of those coming in the Premier League.
Opinion
Newcastle losing Lascelles might not be the worst thing in the world for the Magpies – they do have quality options already on their books to take his place – but that valuation of £12.4million is some way off what Rafael Benitez and the club’s decision makers will be looking for. He is a proven performer among those outside the top flight’s elite six and while he might not have had the best season in terms of his form and injuries, on his day he is an excellent defender. His leadership is perhaps his most defining quality and the way he marshals his teammates out on the pitch is crucial to the club’s success. There is a reason Benitez made him club captain and the manager would be loath to lose someone he quite clearly has a lot of faith and trust in. Newcastle might accept an offer for his exit if the right price comes in – that is the sort of club they are – but Lazio would probably have to double their valuation if they were to stand any chance of prising him from St James’ Park.