Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly considering signing Newcastle United captain Jamal Lascelles this month and the 29-year-old may very well be a greater possibility for Julen Lopetegui than West Ham man Craig Dawson.
According to Football Insider, the Old Gold will goal a transfer for the previous Nottingham Forest man in the event that they fail to prise Dawson away from relegation rivals West Ham.
A bid for the 32-year-old centre-back has already been rejected by David Moyes’ aspect, though he was omitted of their squad throughout their 1-0 defeat at Molineux on the weekend.
Lascelles would characterize a youthful possibility who might exchange the management void left by Conor Coady, after Bruno Lage inexplicably allowed the membership captain to hitch Everton on mortgage.
It can be extra doubtless {that a} deal may very well be executed, as whereas West Ham might have qualms about strengthening a direct rival, Newcastle can have no drawback with sending a participant down the league whereas they problem for a Champions League spot.
Since joining Newcastle from Forest in 2014, he has gone on to make 221 appearances for the Toon, contributing 14 objectives and 4 assists in that point.
Although he’s formally captain of Eddie Howe’s aspect, the summer season addition of Sven Botman has meant that Lascelles has managed simply six appearances within the prime flight thus far this marketing campaign.
However, he has impressed on his two begins within the League Cup, averaging an excellent 7.15 ranking from WhoScored for his performances in opposition to Tranmere Rovers and Crystal Palace.
Dawson, in the meantime, has struggled to copy his kind from final season with the Hammers thus far this marketing campaign, averaging a disappointing 6.42 ranking from WhoScored for his performances.
The former Rochdale man will flip 33 later this yr so wouldn’t characterize a long-term possibility, whereas he maybe wouldn’t deliver the management expertise that Lascelles would, with the defender having captained each Newcastle and Forest in his profession.
Howe was stuffed with reward for the titan, who earns £40k-per-week at Newcastle, final season regardless of him shedding his place within the first-team lineup.
He said: “His angle has been spot on. He’s clearly our captain and he’s led like a captain even in a tough second for him as a result of he would need to play each sport.
“I always think that’s a true test of a leader is in the difficult moments and I think Jamaal has been absolutely superb – he’s been positive in the changing room before the game, during training – I cannot speak highly enough of his reaction to that.”
Lopetegui is unquestionably missing another centre-back choice to Max Kilman and Nathan Collins, so he should positively think about a swoop for Lascelles this month.