Newcastle United strike 'secret' contract agreement with 'big player' Eddie Howe loves

Jamaal Lascelles remains under contract at Newcastle United until the end of the 2025-26 season.

It’s been over a year since Lascelles last featured for the Magpies after suffering an ACL injury during the 4-3 comeback win over West Ham United. He is unlikely to return before the end of the campaign, which had raised fears he’d played his final game in black and white.

Lascelles was understood to be out of contract this summer but The Athletic have revealed he signed an extension last year. United boss Eddie Howe was asked about Lascelles’ contract situation last week and didn’t take the opportunity to offer some clarity.

Jamaal Lascelles under contract at Newcastle United until 2026

Howe said: “I don’t know whether we’ll see Jamaal before the end of the season. I don’t really want to set a target on his time to return. He’s started very light training with the squad, but that would be light, not necessarily in competitive drills.

“He’s joined in the drills that have been non-competitive, and he’s looked really good. It’s small steps for him. We’re hoping he can definitely be joining in and competing in training before the end of the season, but whether that ties in with the team and whether he gets there in time in terms of competitive action, let’s wait and see.

“He’s a big player for us. He’s very popular, and he’s still a huge leader in the group. He’s got a big presence, and I’m delighted that he got to lift the cup with the other guys. He deserved that moment for the length of time he’s been here and the service he’s given the club.”

Lascelles moved to Newcastle over a decade ago from Nottingham Forest and in his first full season at the club earned the captaincy as a 22-year-old after standing up against some of his mercenary teammates during the 2015-16 relegation season.

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From Championship promotion, Premier League relegation battles, Champions League football and seeing the club win the Carabao Cup to end its 70-year domestic trophy drought, the now 31-year-old has experienced it all at St James’ Park.

Despite being unable to play this season, Lascelles contribution behind the scenes has been regularly praised and highlighted by Howe.

Newcastle United summer transfer plans

Both of Newcastle’s right-sided centre-backs are now under contract until the end of next season after it was announced last week that Fabian Schar had penned a new one-year extension. That said, signing a new central defender in the summer transfer market remains a priority with only Sven Botman under the age of 30.

United made Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi their number one transfer target last summer but refused to meet his £70million price tag. The England international remains of interest, as does Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah, although sources on Merseyside have played down the chances of that happening.