Newcastle United defender attracting January interest from Premier League rivals

Newcastle United club captain Jamaal Lascelles is believed to be on Wolverhampton Wanderers' January wish-list.

Wanderers are in dire need of a centre-back going into the second half of the season after selling Maximilian Kilman to West Ham and suffering a season long injury to Yerson Mosquera. Lascelles has not kicked a ball for Newcastle since April but will be nearing fitness in January and is on a list of reccomended top-flight centre-backs put to Gary O'Neil.

Lascelles has always vowed to fight for his place and been loyal to the Magpies after sticking with them after relegation in 2016 to captain United back to the Premier League. Indeed the defender is just one appearance shy of 250 games for the club and has represented Newcastle from Barnsley away in the Championship to Borussia Dortmund away in the Champions League but at 31 his next contract will be a really important one.

READ MORE: Newcastle United want to complete 'uncomplicated' deal that has Eddie Howe's blessing

READ MORE: Eddie Howe given green light to make huge Newcastle United midfield changes at Palace

The ex-Nottingham Forest defender also faces stiff competition from Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Lloyd Kelly and Dan Burn to get back into the heart of Howe's back four. Lascelles triggered a new extension on his existing deal last spring and is under contract until June 2025.

But his future after that remains unclear and he has been constantly linked with Saudi Pro League and Turkish Super Lig sides in the last 12 months. Speaking about his fitness levels, Newcastle captain Lascelles said last month: "In terms of my recovery from my ACL injury, I'm well over the worst now. I should be back on the grass soon and jogging in the next few weeks.

"It’ll take me a while to build up from there but I'm happy to be ticking those boxes and now it's about getting my boots back on and progressing slowly that way.

"Obviously, it is tough - mentally just as much as physically - but fortunately for me, I enjoy working out and going in the gym. I spend half my day in there, but it's something I like doing.

"To other players who don't, it would probably be a lot more difficult but I quite enjoy the challenge, setting myself weekly goals and monthly goals, hitting them and then moving on to the next one I still try and do what I can around the group, even though I'm not out on the pitch."