Jamaal Lascelles has been a sought-after player in the past three transfer windows, with Nottingham Forest expressing interest. However, the current Newcastle club captain has decided to stay at St James’ Park.
In a recent match, Lascelles showcased his defensive prowess by effectively containing Kylian Mbappe as Newcastle secured a 4-1 victory over PSG. While he may have remained on the radar of various Premier League clubs, including Forest, it’s now certain that he won’t be leaving Newcastle.
The Northern Echo reports that Eddie Howe, the Newcastle manager, values Lascelles and sees him as an essential part of the team, especially with Sven Botman’s injury. Despite only making 11 appearances in the previous season, Lascelles is now a key figure in Howe’s plans for the club.
![Newcastle United: Jamaal Lascelles on Magpies staying 'focused and grounded' - BBC Sport](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/817/cpsprodpb/384f/live/1dd2a830-683e-11ee-b68d-2d96124ae38f.jpg)
Newcastle, which defied expectations to secure a place in the Champions League last season, is clearly on an upward trajectory. Shay Given praised Lascelles for his outstanding performance against PSG, where he successfully contained Mbappe for the entire match.
Even though Forest showed interest in Lascelles, it seems they have ample options in the center-back position, with the recent signing of Murillo and the emergence of talented youngster Andrew Omobamidele.
At 29 years old, Lascelles is currently in the prime years of his career, and his experience would have been a valuable addition to Forest’s squad. However, Forest will likely move on swiftly from this potential setback.