Newcastle captain Lascelles distances himself from West Ham transfer talk
Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles brushed off speculation about a big-money move to West Ham United this summer.
The Magpies captain has been impressive at St. James' Park, and he enjoyed a stellar 2017-18 campaign in the north-east club's first season back in the Premier League after a promotion.
He's been touted as a future England defensive staple and linked with a host of clubs. Newcastle fielded an initial bid from the Hammers reportedly worth up to £25 million but showed no interest in accepting it. Lascelles himself doesn't sound too bothered, either.
"I'm happy at Newcastle," the 24-year-old told Lee Ryder of the Newcastle Chronicle. "I don’t take notice of the media and I have always been told not to buy into speculation. I was told not to read into it.
“Half of it isn’t even true anyway so I’m just concentrating on playing for Newcastle. I’m happy here, I’m captain, it’s my job and that’s all I’m doing right now.”
Lascelles is a hugely popular player in Tyneside because of his form and commitment to the team, and he admitted it would be a shame to lose that beloved status.
"I'm playing every week, the fans love me," he told the Mirror's Simon Bird. "For me to lose that would be quite upsetting."
West Ham has already signed two centre-backs this summer, inking £22-million man Issa Diop from Toulouse and Paraguay international Fabian Balbuena.