West Ham United reportedly tabled an offer of £25 million to Newcastle United on Tuesday for captain Jamaal Lascelles which was swiftly rejected.
As reported by the Daily Mail, West Ham United bid £25 million for Jamaal Lascelles on Tuesday, which was quickly laughed off and rejected by the club.
West Ham thought they would test the waters with an offer, but the Magpies have said that the 24-year-old simply is not for sale.
Lascelles has been one of Newcastle’s most consistent performers since Rafael Benitez took over in January 2016, and was made club captain by the Spaniard following the departure of Fabrizio Coloccini.
Lascelles is under contract at St. James’ Park until 2023, which in theory would make a move away from the club for anything less than a huge offer quite difficult. Benitez hopes the player can remain up north for a long time.
As reported by the Shields Gazette, he said: “For sure, we want Jamaal.
“He’s a key player for us. He was a key player last year and he can be a key player for Newcastle United in a long, long time in the future. The reality is that we don’t want to sell Jamaal. He’s a key player for us, and the captain and a leader.”
Benitez has been swift to shut down West Ham’s interest in the player, which is sure to be greeted with overwhelming positivity from Newcastle fans, who recognise the importance of Lascelles to the team.
With the exception of perhaps Jonjo Shelvey, Lascelles is probably the one player in the team Newcastle cannot afford to lose going into the new season.
Last term the former Nottingham Forest man impressed massively with his mobility and strength against some of the Premier League’s top attackers, and it will be vital for the Magpies to keep a hold of their captain this summer.
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