Leicester City and Birmingham City are among six teams from the EFL Championship vying to sign Newcastle United skipper Jamaal Lascelles.
According to Ben Jacobs, Jamaal Lascelles is attracting big interest in the dying days of the January window. Leicester City and Birmingham City are among six EFL Championship sides vying for the 12-year Newcastle United veteran, who may not have a future at St. James’ Park.
Jamaal Lascelles has been a decent player for Newcastle United, and probably their most experienced at the moment. Having joined on an initial loan in the summer of 2014 from Nottingham Forest, the central defender signed permanently the following summer and has gone on to make 253 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions since.
In his nearly 12-year stay, the seasoned veteran has found game time difficult to come by, given the series of injuries suffered in the last 18 months or so. With Lascalles’s contract set to expire next summer, there is a possibility for Newcastle United to cash in at this stage of the January window.
There are some defensive injuries for Eddie Howe to deal with this term, but even when key players were absent, Lascelles was barely used as an option. For further context, the Magpies skipper has featured just twice this season across all competitions, with those outings coming in the Premier League in back-to-back cameos against Bournemouth and Arsenal back in September.
Since then, he has been sidelined with an apparent muscle problem and remains on the treatment table. However, there could be a late twist in the tale as at least six Championship sides are vying for Jamaal Lascelles’s signature, including Leicester City and Birmingham City.
Jamaal Lascelles to the Championship?
As per Sky Sports, Birmingham City and Leicester City are in a six-way battle and made enquiries for Lascelles. Those two clubs are stationed in mid-table in the Championship, and they could make do with an experienced defender such as the 12-year Newcastle United veteran. The defender might also find a new lease of life to revive his career.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle United see value in selling Jamaal Lascelles now, especially knowing that injury has prevented his usage this term. Given the need to keep decent depth in the squad for the long season ahead, it will be interesting for Howe to let an experienced head like the Englishman leave without finding a replacement.
