Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles 'demand' revealed amid Besiktas interest

Eddie Howe is seeking ‘clarity’ on the contract situation of Newcastle United club captain Jamaal Lascelles after the Magpies reportedly priced one potential suitors out of a move for the defender.

The powerful centre-back spent the majority of last season watching on from the sidelines after Howe paired summer signing Sven Botman with Fabian Schar as his preferred partnership at the heart of his back four.  However, a serious knee injury suffered by Botman allowed Lascelles back into the fray earlier this season and he repaid the Magpies boss with a series of impressive displays.

The former Nottingham Forest star has been assured over his place at St James Park after Howe lauded his attitude and ability when he returned to his starting lineup in Botman’s absence earlier this season.

Speaking after the defender completed his journey from Championship to Champions League with a dominant display in the 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain in October, Howe said: “I’m so pleased for Jamaal. I said countless times last year how good his attitude was, how well he trained, how good he’d been for the group.  But ultimately he’s desperate to show how good he is on the pitch. 

"The biggest compliment I can pay him is that he’s stepped in and he’s really stepped up to the challenge and I think he’s performed really, really well in the last group of games that we’ve had.  He had to train so well to continue to develop his game when he wasn’t playing and my inner belief was always that he could improve with the team even though he wasn’t in the starting XI, and his game was in a really good place.  I think he proved that tonight, so we’re delighted for him. It’s a real testament to his attitude and his character.”

A calf injury limited Lascelles’ involvement in recent weeks and there has been some talk of a move elsewhere as the defender moves into the final six months of his current deal at St James Park.  However, Howe cast some doubt over the length of the deal and stressed how important the United stalwart was to his plans last week.

Speaking of Lascelles’ future ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup win at Fulham, Howe said: "I need to have clarity on Jamaal’s contract situation but as I say, he’s a big part of our future. I’m not sure he is out of contract at the end of the season."

The lack of clarity over the Lascelles situation and his long-term future on Tyneside has led to speculation the defender’s nine-year stay at St James Park could come to an end before Thursday’s transfer deadline.  Besiktas were heavily linked with a move for the 30-year-old centre-back - but journalist Gökmen Özcan has now claimed any interest is now over after the Turkish club rejected Newcastle’s request for a £2.5m fee.