Chelsea are interested in signing the highly rated Newcastle United central defender and skipper Jamaal Lascelles, according to reports from Daily Star.
The 22-year-old, who joined the Magpies from Nottingham Forest in 2014, has thrived under Rafa Benitez’s management and his progress is attracting admirers.
According to The Sun, Antonio Conte is considering an £18m deal as he looks to strengthen his defence with home-grown prospects.
Lascelles has impressed Chelsea scouts in recent weeks and has convinced Antonio Conte to take a closer look at his potential during the upcoming January transfer window.
Apart from Lascelles, Tottenham left-back Ben Davies, Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson and Burnley’s Michael Keane are also on his long list of Antonio Conte’s January transfer targets.
Lascelles has been one of Newcastle’s best players in recent seasons which was understood from the fact that manager Rafa Benitez appointed the 22-year old star as his captain after dropping to the Championship.
After appointing Lascelles as captain, Benitez had said: “We have a few players now in the squad who have the character to be captain, but Jamaal has proven himself to be a leader and a big personality in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“At the end of last season he really developed as a character and a man.”