While much of the Newcastle transfer news will focus around signing new players, Eddie Howe is also set to prioritise his current crop of players by ensuring their futures are tied down. With that in mind, there is a significant contract set to expire in 2024 and that is the captain, Jamaal Lascelles.
The experienced defender has been a key part of the season so far. He was somewhat thrown in the deep end as one of our best players from last season, Sven Botman, was injured towards the start of this campaign. However, Lascelles wasn't fazed by the pressure and he has put in some exceptional performances during his stint in the starting lineup this season.
Truth is, Lascelles has always been an important presence. In terms of technical ability, he isn't our best defender. If we had a game against the best team in the world and our club depended on keeping a clean sheet, we aren't likely to field Jamaal Lascelles. However, his presence in the changing room could be the difference between winning and losing.
Newcastle transfer news: Eddie Howe wants to keep Jamaal Lascelles
Lascelles is respected by his fellow players and, as it's now been revealed, Eddie Howe. According to a report by Newcastle World, Jamaal Lascelles is one player who Eddie Howe would like to reward with a new contract before the season ends. Given that his contract runs out in 2024, this is bound to be a priority for the English boss.
For as long as there's fuel left in Lascelles' tank, he should be a squad member. He's done a lot for us and the least we could do is reward him with a new contract. Although he is injured at the moment, there is bound to be a time before the end of the season where he's required again, given our injurry record this season.
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What do you make of today's Newcastle transfer news?