Jordan Lukaku is keen on a move to the Premier League (Getty Images)
According to The Shields Gazette, Serie A giants Lazio are interested in signing Newcastle United club-captain Jamaal Lascelles, with reports claiming that the Italian outfit are prepared to offer left-back Jordan Lukaku in a player-plus-cash exchange deal.
The Shields Gazette understands that Lazio’s Sporting Direction Igli Tare values Lascelles at around £16million and he is ready to throw in Jordan Lukaku, the brother of Man United striker Romelu Lukaku, as a bait to tempt the Magpies into selling their captain.
This is not the first time, though, that Lukaku has been linked with a move to Tyneside, with the same source claiming that the 24-year-old Belgian was lined up for a loan deal by manager Rafael Benitez back in January. However, the left-back, injured at that time, failed to pass a medical at St.James’ Park and a deal fell through, with Newcastle going on to sign Italian Antonio Barecca on loan from AS Monaco.
However, Barecca made only a solitary Premier League appearance in the second half of this past season and apparently failed to impress upon Benitez to earn a significant first-team role. While a left-back continues to be high on the manager’s wishlist for the summer, it’s highly unlikely that the Magpies are going to go ahead with a permanent deal for the Italian.
Benitez preferred a back-five system in the Premier League last season, with two wing-backs on either side complementing a three-man central defensive unit. The Spaniard was forced to use Matt Ritchie in a left wing-back role due to lack of suitable personnel in his ranks but the former Bournemouth man showcased his versatility and racked up as a many as 3 goals and 8 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
However, one cannot help but feel that Newcastle should try and maximise Ritchie’s potential by using him further up the pitch, meaning that a specialist left-back needs to be brought in to allow Benitez more freedom when it comes to team selection.
To put things into perspective, it is a no-brainer that Newcastle need a new left-back but sacrificing club-captain Jamaal Lascelles for that purpose doesn’t make a lot of sense, given that the 25-year-old is nearing his prime years and is regarded as one of the best central defenders outside the big-six in the Premier League. Also, Jordan Lukaku won’t necessarily be the best possible choice for the Magpies, given his struggles with injuries in recent years.
Lukaku was regarded as a bright emerging prospect in Belgium during his time at Anderlecht and Oostende but a move to the Serie A with Lazio hasn’t brought the best out of him. The 24-year-old’s performances in Italy have been anything but convincing, and that coupled with his poor injury record, mean that the Newcastle fans should be happy to see the rumours pass by without a deal actually materializing.
The Belgian has started only a single game for Lazio in the Serie A this past season and the Serie A club’s desire to get him off their books perfectly makes sense. The 24-year-old’s ill-fated spell in Italy has seen him make 71 appearances in all competitions over the course of three full seasons but his returns haven’t been all that great, with the Belgian just managing to contribute with a goal and 6 assists.
Lascelles, on the other hand, is not just a solid centre-back but he is also a charismatic leader on the pitch for the Magpies and, undoubtedly, one of the first names on Benitez’s teamsheet. He has established himself as one of the top performers at Tyneside over the past three campaigns and losing him would be a step backwards for the club. Also, he is only 25, meaning that he still has a lot of time to make significant improvements to his game, given his talent and potential.
Newcastle are yet to sort out the future of Benitez at the club, with the Spaniard’s contract set to expire shortly, and it would be foolish for the Magpies to sanction the departure of their highly-rated club-captain in under such circumstances.
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And, if they are really desperate to bring in a new left-back, the Toon army should consider a more direct approach rather than a swap deal involving Lascelles, who is likely to play a key role at the back for years to come. He recently committed his future to the club by signing a new six-year contract, so Newcastle’s decision to sell him would go against all logic and reason.