Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Want Jamaal Lascelles in Latest Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly considering a swoop for Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles at the end of the season.

According to John Richardson and Neil Rowlands of the Sunday Mirror, the Blues are ready to pay £30 million to secure the signature of the 24-year-old, who has been impressive at the heart of the club's defence this season.

Chelsea are said to rate him highly, too. According to the report, since being made captain by Newcastle, the traits Lascelles has shown on and off the pitch have impressed the Blues, and they are "qualities which have led Chelsea’s transfer recruitment team to compare him with John Terry."

Lascelles is said to be happy with life at Newcastle, although would be tempted by the chance to move to Stamford Bridge.

The former Nottingham Forest man has excelled for the Magpies since their return to the top flight, providing the defensive linchpin upon which manager Rafael Benitez's pragmatic blueprint is built. Daniel Storey suggested Lascelles was unlucky not to make the recent England squad:

The defender has relished being the leader of this Newcastle team, a responsibility that brings a lot of pressure given the fanatical nature of the club's supporters.

This season he's made 21 appearances in the top flight and has also chipped in with three goals for his side. His latest performances have been especially impressive, as Newcastle have won their last three home games in succession to pull clear of the relegation zone; they have kept clean sheets in all of those clashes.

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Lascelles' dominance in the air, determination in one-on-one duels and astute positioning has been so important to that run. As noted by George Caulkin of The Times, he's one of a number of players that have come into form at the right time for Newcastle:

Chelsea would represent an enormous step up. Not only would there be more scrutiny on the centre-back, playing for a more enterprising team would bring stylistic challenges; Lascelles would be more exposed and there would be a lot more expected of him with the ball at his feet, too.

Andrew Musgrove of the Chronicle believes there are reasons for and against Lascelles making the switch to an elite club:

Some Chelsea fans might turn their nose up at this speculation. After all, as well as Lascelles is playing, it's debatable whether he'd be an upgrade on the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill.

Lascelles has found the best form of his career by being entrusted with a key role at Newcastle and getting regular minutes under his belt. With Newcastle's place in the top flight almost secured, another season in the north-east at least makes sense for the leader of the Toon Army.