Chelsea’s interest in Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles dates back to 2011
News broke over the weekend that Chelsea are keen on signing Jamaal Lascelles from Newcastle United.
The Sun reported they could launch a £18 million bid for the Toon captain, who has been a key player in the club’s rise to the top of the Championship table.
Jamaal Lascelles celebrates scoring the first goal for Newcastle United
Yet Chelsea’s interest in Lascelles is not just kneejerk reaction to his feats in 2016.
The Blues have a long standing interest in Lascelles dating back to 2011.
The Mirror reported five years ago that Chelsea were, along with Arsenal, keen on signing Lascelles as a youngster from Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring their first goal with Jamaal Lascelles
Chelsea never pushed through their interest in the centre-back, and Lascelles went on to sign with Newcastle in 2014.
While new boss Antonio Conte will not be too concerned with the mistakes of past regimes, if they make a big play for Lascelles now, the club will be admitting they got it wrong over the youngster.
There is an argument that had Chelsea signed him five years ago he would be languishing out on loan like many of their young squad, and he has benefited from playing Championship and Premier League football over the past few years.
It will be tough to prise him away from Newcastle now, and might well wish they had simply paid up a far smaller fee to bring him on board when it was far easier to do so.
Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles (R) celebrates with teammates after he scored his sides first goal
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