Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles has reportedly emerged as a possible transfer target for Chelsea.
The Magpies have spent much of the season fighting to stay out of the Premier League relegation zone, but the performances of centre-back Lascelles have been one of the main positives of their campaign.
The 24-year-old has scored three times in 22 top-flight outings for Newcastle, while the North-East outfit have recently put together a run of results which has included just three defeats in 11 matches in all competitions.
However, according to the London Evening Standard, Lascelles's efforts have not gone unnoticed and Chelsea are considering whether to launch a bid for the player during the summer.
Lascelles only penned a new long-term deal in October but Chelsea are allegedly keen to lower the average age of the centre of their backline, with Gary Cahill and David Luiz turning 33 and 31 respectively later in 2018.
Chelsea currently possess the third-best defence in the Premier League, with 23 goals being conceded in 27 matches.
Darren Plant
