Newcastle United are set to “listen to offers” for central defender Jamaal Lascelles in the summer, with Nottingham Forest one of the clubs credited with an interest.
The centre-back left Forest in the summer of 2014, but returned on loan to City Ground for the remainder of the season. He has been with Newcastle ever since, making a total of 222 appearances for the club.
However, this season Lascelles have found it difficult to get playing time. He has made only three Premier League appearances for Newcastle so far this season and was left out of the squad entirely for the weekend’s clash against AFC Bournemouth.
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The defender was linked with a return to the City Ground in last summer’s transfer window. But Lascelles’ first option was to stay at St James’ Park for another season.
Now it looks like Forest could revive his interest when the transfer window reopens at the end of the season. According to the Echo of the NorthNewcastle will listen to offers in the summer, with Forest showing “long-term interest” in the Derby-born centre-back.
By the time the summer rolls around, Lascelles will only have one year left on his contract at St James’ Park, meaning he could be available on a reduced-price deal. Newcastle are expected to move for another defender in the summer, freeing up Lascelles to move on.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe is said to have decided to keep the defender during the January transfer window due to his being an influential figure in the dressing room. The defender is the club’s captain at Newcastle.
The report adds that Forest is likely to be interested in their former player in the summer, should they retain their Premier League status at the end of the season. But they could face competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers, another Premier League side, who had previously scouted the 29-year-old.
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