Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles has been identified as one of many defenders currently being discussed at SS Lazio, according to Il Messaggero.
The Rome-based newspaper claim Igil Tare, Lazio’s Sporting Director, has been sounding out the English market to find younger options to sure up I Biancocelesti’s defence, with manager Simone Inzaghi focusing on experienced players who can make an instant impact at the Stadio Olimpico.
Our captain and Arsenal’s versatile Callum Chambers are two who have come to light in Tare’s search, with the pair thought to fit the 45-year-old’s desired profile and suggest they are valued at just €14million (£12.4m).
That’s not to say Lazio will be making an approach anytime soon to snatch the 25-year-old from us, only that he is being considered with Inzaghi requiring another central defender.
An offer of €14milion would be rather insulting, too, given Lascelles has five years remaining on his contract, having only renewed in November when he landed a £40,000-a-week deal.
It would also be rather surprising if Lascelles were to join Lazio this summer given his rapport with the Magpies fanbase. Only last year he spoke about wanting to end the club’s 50-year trophy drought, noting: “It gives me huge pride being captain. I can’t emphasise enough about how proud I am to be at the club and lead the team out every week.
“We have a magnificent group of players and we’ve achieved so much over the last couple of seasons. We want to kick on. We don’t just want to play to stay in the Premier League again.
“We aren’t interested in finishing 14th or even tenth, because nobody remembers that. Every player here is ambitious. They want to kick on and play for trophies. Whether that’s the FA Cup, or League Cup, or getting into the top six and Europe. It’s a difficult task, yes, but it’s not impossible.”
Lazio, meanwhile, would be unable to use the allure of European football to tempt Lascelles away, having finished the recent Serie A campaign in eighth – seven-points shy of the final Europa League spot.