Report: Eddie Howe really doesn't want Newcastle to sell £40k-a-week star, he's been excellent in training

By Ben Evans

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe does not want to sell club captain Jamaal Lascelles this month.

That’s according to a report from The Telegraph, who have been outlining Newcastle’s January transfer plans.

They suggest that Lascelles is a target for newly promoted side Nottingham Forest this month.

However, the player ‘wants to remain on Tyneside’, and Howe agrees that he shouldn’t go anywhere.

The 29-year-old was signed by Newcastle from Forest back in 2014 alongside Karl Darlow for a combined £7m.

He’s was a regular in the Newcastle side for years, but he has been less involved in recent seasons.

Howe has started Lascelles just once in the league this season.

Unfortunately, it was the only Premier League match that Newcastle have lost in this campaign.

Despite his lack of minutes, Lascelles is still an important player in the Newcastle squad, and Howe doesn’t want him going anywhere.

Howe want to keep Newcastle captain Lascelles in January

The Telegraph suggests that, ‘despite a lack of game time, Howe also does not want to lose his presence around the training ground.’

The £40,000-a-week defender only has 18 months left on his current deal at St. James’ Park.

It’s unlikely that Newcastle will renew Lascelles contract, despite his involvement behind-the-scenes.

Howe has praised Lascelles in training already this season, and the centre-back will always be ready if called upon.

The form of Sven Botman and Fabian Schar has made Howe’s job easy when it comes to picking his centre-backs.

Dan Burn has excelled at left-back, and could easily fill in if either first-choice defender is unavailable.

Even though he’s not playing week in, week out, Lascelles could help Newcastle achieve something incredible under Howe this season.

They’ve gone from a relegation scrap to Champions League contention in just 12 months.

Howe will want as little disruption as possible for the rest of the season.

Lascelles keeping his teammates focused and standards up in training will certainly help that.