According to Il Messaggero (h/t BBC), Serie A side Lazio are preparing an offer to sign Newcastle United star Jamaal Lascelles in the summer.
The main talking point about the reported news is Lazio’s willingness to offer Newcastle their January transfer target Jordan Lukaku as a part of the deal.
The Magpies were extremely close to securing a loan move to sign the Belgian back in January but the deal failed to go through due to problems in his medical. However, Rafa Benitez could have another opportunity in the summer but this time, at a cost.
Newcastle desperately need a new left-back and that has been the case ever since the deal for Lukaku collapsed in January. The Magpies’ failure to properly address the situation forced Benitez to push Matt Ritchie into an unnatural position and the decision surprisingly worked out.
The former Bournemouth man looked extremely comfortable in his new role and provided the work rate that was needed by his manager on a consistent basis.
Ritchie’s defensive positioning almost made it seem like he had been playing there all his life but the choice of playing him there deprived Newcastle of his attacking qualities.
The Magpies are expected to address the issue this summer and Lukaku would be a fairly decent signing for them. However, losing Jamaal Lascelles as a result of signing the Belgian is just absurd and it should not even be considered by the club this summer.
Lascelles has been a real leader and is one of Rafa Benitez’s first names on the team sheet. The 25-year-old has been outstanding for the Magpies over the last three seasons and his quality at the back will remain extremely important next season.
Newcastle already face the risk of losing Benitez, and losing their captain along with their manager would be a monumental blow ahead of next season. The Magpies have a very strong backline of Florian Lejeune, Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar, and losing any of them could prove to be disastrous.
Jordan Lukaku would be a decent signing for Newcastle this summer but the mere thought of swapping their captain Jamaal Lascelles for him should send chills down the fans’ spine.
Read more Newcastle United news, click here: Newcastle United latest news
Newcastle could well get into a downward spiral if they lose their skipper as well as their manager, which could see them return to the Championship at the end of next campaign. Newcastle should at not cost consider Lazio’s offer this summer.
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…
In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…
Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…
If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…