OPINION
It now looks as though Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is set to remain at the club for another season at least, and work can begin on bringing in new additions this summer.
On top of bringing in new recruits, Benitez will also be looking to keep his top players at St. James’ Park and ward off interest from the Premier League big-hitters in the process.
At the top of the pile on Tyneside right now is Toon skipper Jamaal Lascelles, who has been linked with the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton in recent weeks.
The 24-year-old enforcer had a brilliant season for the Magpies as they ended up in tenth in the table, and his domineering performances have rightly attracted the interest of several big clubs.
However, Lascelles has now given the clearest indication yet that he will remain a Newcastle player this summer in what is a perfectly timed boost for Benitez and the club.
As quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “This is the happiest I’ve been. I’m playing week in, week out. And I’m the captain here, the fans love me, and I’ve got a good relationship with them because I love them. And we’re doing well, too.
“I’m very happy here. You hear things, you hear rumours and stuff, but I’m a young player and I need to be playing football at a good club – and that’s what this is.
“This is the right club for me at the right time. We have a huge fanbase, an amazing manager, and this club is massive. It has so much history. As captain, I want to see how far we can go – and potentially take it back to where it belongs.”
You would be hard-pressed to find a more powerful declaration of loyalty in football today, and Newcastle fans can surely rest easy now about a potential Lascelles departure.
Lascelles is the kind of player that Benitez will be able to build a team around, and knowing that he is staying at the club will give him a more clear idea of who he wants to bring in during the coming weeks.
This huge boost will hopefully provide the basis for a massively exciting summer at Newcastle United, with Benitez safe in the knowledge that his most important player will still be there come August.
