Club hold initial talks with in-form captain over a new contract

NEWCASTLE United are understood to have held initial talks with Jamaal Lascelles over a new contract.

The in-form skipper is enjoying plenty of plaudits after his man-ofthe-match performance against Swansea City, with some fans even suggesting Lascelles deserves an England call-up.

Lascelles is on England’s radar, very much so after being capped from under-18 level to under-21s, with his last international appearance coming under current boss Gareth Southgate.

The England chief ran the rule over Lascelles in the recent 3-0 win over West Ham United and scoured through a host of positive reports on the centre-back following his influential display at the Liberty Stadium. Lascelles still has three years left to run on his current contract but Newcastle are believed to have discussed an improved deal.

Rafa Benitez sees Lascelles as a key figure in the dressing room and, after making him captain in summer 2016, retained the defender in that role during pre-season.

Lascelles was linked with Chelsea and Liverpool last season and the Magpies are eager to let him lead the club to the next level after captaining the club to promotion last season. Benitez has been impressed with Lascelles’ attitude in the last 12 months, with the player making it clear he still had a lot to learn.

He said at the end of last season: “I am still young, still 23.

“I still have a lot to improve on. I know that, everybody knows that, the manager knows that.

“I am a listener and a learner. I will always work hard.”