Steve Bruce has confirmed that he would like to hold talks with Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles over a new contract at the club.
Bruce has confirmed that he has had meetings with Lee Charnley, who also agrees that it is vital to tie down some of the club’s key figures.
The new Magpies boss is keen to reward the nucleus of the squad that helped Newcastle return to the Premier League after their relegation to the Championship.
Bruce revealed the news as quoted by the Chronicle, saying: “Him and Matt Ritchie and the goalkeeper and the captain, there are probably four or five we want to talk to. I have had a conversation with Lee Charnley and (he feels) exactly the same too.”
“The players brought in were too good for the Championship. And those players, five or six of them are still the nucleus of the squad. They deserve big credit and that is why I want to reward them.”
Lascelles has been at St James’ Park since 2014 and has gone on to make 137 appearances before the start of the new Premier League campaign.
OPINION
It is vital for any club to tie down their best players to long-term deals and Lascelles is definitely one of those for Bruce. The Newcastle skipper epitomised passion during their short stay in the Championship, helping guide them to the title on their first attempt – not the easiest task in the world, just ask Sunderland. The 25-year-old enforcer has taken that form into the Premier League with him and has cemented his place in the heart of defence alongside Fabian Schar with ease. The former Nottingham Forest man enjoyed a great season in the Premier League last time around, keeping 11 clean sheets along the way. Defensively he was solid, averaging a single tackle per game, meaning he was only dribbled past 0.1 times on average per game throughout the season. Lascelles main strength was getting rid of danger when it was needed the most, having averaged 6.6 clearances per game for the Magpies, a phenomenal effort to protect his keeper Martin Dubravka [Source: WhoScored]. As captain of the club, Lascelles will look to make a constant impression on his teammates, and signing a new deal could lead to a number of renewals in the Magpies’ squad.
