Newcastle have done well by offering Jamaal Lascelles a new contract
According to the Newcastle Chronicle, Jamaal Lascelles has attracted interest from Premier League giants Tottenham and Chelsea with both the club’s monitoring the centre-back’s performances. However, in what should come as good news to the fans, the Magpies recently tied down the star defender to a new contract (h/t Sky Sports).
It has been a dismal start to the Premier League for Newcastle and the Magpies sit 19th in the standings with just 3 points. Rafael Benitez’s men are yet to register their first win of the campaign and quite clearly, they will face an uphill task to avoid the drop this season.
Newcastle have one of the poorest goalscoring records in the top flight, having scored only 6 goals so far. However, they have one of the best defensive records among the mid-table teams, having conceded only 14 goals.
As evident from the records, Newcastle have established themselves as a solid defensive unit, making it difficult for the opposition to score goals. And Jamaal Lascelles has been at the centre of everything that Newcastle have achieved in terms of the defence.
The 24-year-old has played a key role in the heart of the defence for the Magpies this season and losing him could have proven detrimental to their chances of survival in the top flight. In fact, the former England U21 international has established himself as the leader of the backline and the silver lining in what has otherwise been a disastrous campaign.
Truth be told, all the defenders have been in the firing line as Newcastle haven’t been able to dictate terms in any of the games. The Magpies haven’t managed to retain the ball long enough, resulting in increased pressure on the defenders to clear their lines far more often.
Playing alongside the hugely experienced Argentine international Federico Fernandez, Lascelles has held the defence together with his leadership qualities, helping the full-backs with their coordination and positioning.
As a matter of fact, he has been the pick of the defenders so far. The 24-year-old has averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, which is understandable since the manager’s tactics have forced the team to sit deep inside their own half.
Not only has he been good with his positioning but has also stamped his authority in the air, winning a staggering 4.1 aerial duels per game.
However, the most impressive thing about him has been the number of clearances he has made so far, averaging a remarkable 7.1 clearances per game this term. Quite clearly, his numbers are right up there with the best in the Premier League.
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Still only 24, Jamaal Lascelles has a lot to offer at Tyneside and will only get better with time. He is a player with a massive potential and there is a good chance of him donning the Three Lions jersey in the near future.
That said, Newcastle have done an excellent job by tying their prized asset down to a new contract.
