Newcastle fans should be raging if West Ham land Benitez and Lascelles

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West Ham United have recently been linked with moves for Newcastle United pair Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles.

While Newcastle United may have finished in the top-half of the Premier League table, Rafa Benitez appears to be under absolutely no illusions that the Magpies need to enjoy a busy and productive summer having spent much of the campaign looking as if they were on the periphery of the relegation battle.

The Daily Mirror recently suggested that Benitez is seeking greater funds from Mike Ashley ahead of this summer, and with one of Newcastle’s top flight rivals seemingly lurking in the background, it appears that Ashley has every incentive he could need to give the Spaniard exactly what he wants during this window.

The Mirror has reported that West Ham are now plotting an approach for Rafa Benitez as he tops their four-man shortlist following David Moyes’ departure from the London Stadium.

Unfortunately for the Magpies however, Benitez is not the only key figure at St James’ Park that West Ham reportedly have their eye on, with The Sun reporting back in March that current captain Jamaal Lascelles may also be offered the chance to make a move this summer.

No two people amongst the first-team have done more when it comes to re-establishing Newcastle back at the highest level than Benitez and Lascelles, so losing either would be a huge blow – but the idea of losing both to a club that finished below them in the top flight this year should be something that inspires Ashley into action.

Some Magpies fans may feel that their contempt for Ashley could not increase, but if they had to watch Benitez and Lascelles head to another club who find themselves in mid-table of the Premier League, those supporters may be able to find new levels of anger.

West Ham’s defeat to Burnley showed that everything is not right between the supporters and the board with the Irons either, so if either Benitez or Lascelles deemed leaving Newcastle for the Hammers as a step forward, the alarm bells should be ringing rapidly.

Newcastle have the stature, the fanbase and the potential to be the kind of club that could easily convince their key men to ignore interest from most sides. But with Ashley at the helm, it would be little surprise if some of the Toon Army felt a little uneasy by the speculation.