Jamaal Lascelles open to Beşiktaş move with "formal approach" expected

Jamaal Lascelles is subject to "strong interest" from Turkish giants Beşiktaş and is said to be "open" to a Süper Lig move as he seeks more game time.

This is according to Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports, who this afternoon revealed the news in an X post, going on to say that Beşiktaş are expected to make a formal approach for Newcastle's club captain soon:

Sheth affirms that Lascelles is still happy at Newcastle, but believes the 29-year-old centre-back would consider the move because of his struggles for minutes at St. James' Park.

Indeed, as it stands the Derby-born defender knows his only chance of featuring regularly is a significant injury to Fabian Schär, who has been the Magpies' best centre-back over the last 18 months.

Lascelles likely knows that this is his last season on Tyneside regardless, but we have always felt that the club captain would see out his contract here, especially with the club now back in the Champions League.

We still hope this will be the case, but it will be hard to argue with whatever he decides to do. He's been a superb servant to NUFC since joining alongside Karl Darlow back in 2014, enjoying his breakthrough season in 2015/16 under Steve McClaren and Rafa Benítez, who made him club captain.

We're sure Eddie Howe would like to keep him around for his influence off the pitch, as much as anything, but the Magpies are still being linked to central defenders. We would certainly need to bring one in if Lascelles was allowed to depart.