Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has some big decisions to make on transfer deadline day, one of which could involve Jamaal Lascelles.
The 29-year-old has not played a single minute of football during Newcastle‘s opening three Premier League games, and has been linked with a move away from St James’ Park.
It was reported last week that Lascelles was the subject of interest from Turkish side Besiktas. It was claimed that a formal approach was on the horizon, with the centre-back open to potentially leaving Newcastle before the transfer window closed.
However, he is not pushing to leave the club, and there has been no further speculation about the captain taking his talents to Turkey.
Now an update has emerged, and it sounds like Lascelles is going to be staying put.
Eddie Howe does not want Jamaal Lascelles to leave Newcastle on deadline day
According to the Chronicle, Howe wants Lascelles to stay at Newcastle.
That is a sensible decision, as him leaving would mean that we need to find a replacement. Given it is the final day of the transfer window, it would be a major risk to let the centre-back leave.
Newcastle have already spent a large part of this summer looking to sign a centre-back, but have been unable to. There was talk of a move for Joachim Andersen, but the Magpies were put off by his £40million asking price.
Perhaps if Newcastle had signed someone like him then Howe would be more receptive to letting Lascelles go, but it is vital that we keep him with no other arrivals expected.
The Toon boss is a huge fan of Lascelles, and heaped praise on him during the summer trip to America. Unprovoked, Howe took time to label him as an ‘unbelievable‘ captain, and that is a role that he looks set to continue in this season.
He will not play much, but Lascelles will continue to lead behind the scenes and provide backup for the likes of Fabian Schar and Sven Botman.
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