Lascelles has signed a new six-year contract at Newcastle.
Rafa Benitez has congratulated Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles on his personal website after the Toon skipper signed a new six-year deal to keep him at St. James’ Park until the summer of 2023.
The 24-year-old remains one of the first names on the team sheet under Benitez and his performances – even in a struggling Newcastle side – have attracted plenty of Premier League clubs.
Most recently, The Chronicle have reported this week that Tottenham Hotspur were interested in the Newcastle centre-back, but the uncapped Englishman has put a line under his future by staying with Newcastle.
Newcastle boss Benitez took to his website to congratulate Lascelles on signing a new deal, stating that the best is yet to come and claimed the former Nottingham Forest ace will have a “great future”.
“I’m really pleased to see Jamaal sign a contract extension,” Benitez said. “He’s the future of the club and someone who really cares.The fans are looking for players who care about the team and the club, and he is one of these players.
“He’s still a young player, still a young captain and still a young centre-back, so we’re talking about a player who has a great future, because normally you consider the peak of a centre-back could be between 28 years old and 30 years old.
“He has plenty of room for improvement. He’s keen to learn and he’s working hard, trying to be a better player every day, so it is good news for the club.”
Lascelles has missed just one match this season in the Premier League, failing to declare himself fit for the Chelsea clash back in August.
The defender will be hoping to celebrate his new deal by helping The Toon earn their first win of the Premier League campaign against Watford at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
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