Journalist Aaron Stokes has been speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast about how Jamaal Lascelles leaving Newcastle United this summer would work for everyone involved.
Lascelles had been a regular for Newcastle over the last few years, but since the deadline-day arrival of Dan Burn in January, the captain was afforded just four league starts under Eddie Howe, which has raised questions over his long-term future at the club.
The skipper has proved to be a top servant for the Magpies, costing them just £4.5m back in 2014 and has gone on to rack up 214 appearances under four permanent managers, but with his former club Nottingham Forest now back in the Premier League, they’ve been tipped with a move for Lascelles.
Stokes believes that a move to Forest would work for all parties this summer.
He said: “I feel like it’s the perfect deal for both parties. If you’re Jamaal Lascelles, yes, you’re leaving Newcastle, which is obviously going to be a shame, but you’re getting Premier League football at a club that you’ve got a massive history with, you’re loved there, you could be a starting player in Forest’s first Premier League season in 20 years.
“It’s a good deal for Newcastle because it gets him off the books, and obviously, it looks like he’s going to be down the pecking order, anyway. Yes, they would lose a dressing room leader, but I think on the pitch, his time’s probably been and gone at Newcastle; I think his best days are behind him.
“So I think, for me, it’s a deal that looks like it could work for both parties.”
TIF Thoughts on Lascelles’ future…
While Lascelles has impressed and been trusted by several managers on Tyneside, it’s obvious that isn’t going to be the case under Eddie Howe, which could mainly be due to his lack of ability on the ball – as he ranks third-bottom when it comes to short passes completed (FBRef).
Lascelles would likely leave Tyneside with good wishes from everyone at the club and within the fanbase for what he’s done to get the club out of the Championship and then ensure they avoided the drop in every season since, but with the Magpies linked with players such as Sven Botman and Nathan Ake, it’s difficult to see where Lascelles fits into the team.