There was an article earlier today in Sky Sports that West Ham had made a £20M initial offer for Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles, rising potentially to £25M.
But today when interviewed in the Chronicle Rafa said he had not heard of any offer for his captain and took the opportunity to say that he is not for sale.
Other clubs have been linked this summer with potentially making a move for the center-back with Chelsea being one of them.
So it wouldn’t be a massive surprise if bids do come in for him but Lascelles is a key player and leader for us – one reason he is the captain – and a very good one too.
Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles – don’t leave me now
This is what Rafa has said about the situation as reported in the Chronicle:
“He was a key player for us last year and he has to be this year and for a long time to come in the future.”
“The reality is that we don’t want to sell Jamaal. He is a key player for us and leader. We are happy with him.”
“No (I am now aware of any bid for him).” “I saw it on TV but we are not thinking of that.”
“We are just thinking of how to improve him on the pitch.”
When we have a good player at the club, Rafa will want to keep them, and he will not put up with Mike Ashley selling one of his best players.
Rafa wants to have an outstanding team on the pitch and not a lot of money in the club’s bank account.
That, unfortunately, is one of the scenarios that could happen that would mean Rafa would leave Newcastle – if Mike Ashley sells one of his top players
We cannot let that happen.
Anyway – when is Ashley going to sell the club?
Comments welcome.
115 comments so far
lesh
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:39 PM
Comment #1Rafa says he doesn’t really want to sell Lascelles. He doesn’t really want to but if………. That’s not a categoric ‘Not For Sale at any price is it?
Dubai
Eastbourne has an annual air show which features the Battle of Britain Flight. When turning in for a run over the sea, the Lanc passes directly overhead of our house at a few hundred feet. It’s awesome to see and hear…..
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:42 PM
Comment #2Ha ha ha Ed
Pottsclock
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Comment #3When the Canadian Lancaster came over to the UK in 2015 for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, I saw both together at Goodwood (Chichester). Was awesome. Also saw 20+ spitfires at the same event with some flying in a large wing. The sound was just incredible.
My first ever proper job was working at the factory in Manchester that made the Lancaster – sadly now closed.
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Comment #4Ha Ha Klinsmann just called Mbappe a ‘massive weapon’
Harsh…
😀
Bobbybee
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:53 PM
Comment #5Want some more irrelevant blurb?
All quarter finals were played with a team with seven letters v a team with six. 7+6=13
“It’s coming home” has thirteen letters.
Might as well just hand the trophy over now. 🙂
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:53 PM
Comment #6Don’t leave me now..
Don’t say it’s the end of the road…
Is it safe to come on now and mention how good it is to get another loan for Kenedy, gives us a bit of room for manoeuvre on buying players etc… Plus wasn’t it put forward that Chelsea in their current turmoil are battening down the hatches and as such didn’t want to sell Kenedy just yet?
Just wondering because Jesper has been whining on all day about a decent player coming in being a bad thing because he’s a “loaner”. Jespers got that in common with Kenedy though, you’d think he’d have more empathy 😉
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:54 PM
Comment #7One of my best mates (born in Bury) grandad
started work at Avro when it was still A.V.Roe
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #8Should be some game this. I think England will probably need to order tie wraps for their shorts legs after this one 😐
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #9La Belle France still has the best National Anthem
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Comment #10Interesting stat that nearly half of these players left competing in this cup ply their trade in the PL. Good one to load in the cannon for when anyone says it’s a fading league or the Primera Liga is better etc.
Actually that’s not a stat. It’s a FACT!
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 6:58 PM
Comment #11We could be in for a footy treat here
Fingers crossed
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Comment #12Needless to say extra time and pens and a few calf strains would go down nicely now. 🙂
Ron Knee
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:01 PM
Comment #13Eerie silence where I’m living!
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:02 PM
Comment #14ToonRich, I think G2 is right, it’s probably Yannick Toure. Or Michy Batshuayi if I squint hard enough….
Pottsclock
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:02 PM
Comment #15Let’s hope that France v Belgium is a vicious, physical encounter that extends into extra time with heavy injuries and plenty of bookings etc. Some injuries to significant players that would rule them out of the WC final and delay their return to the PL would also be welcome – though I’m not proud to say it !!
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:04 PM
Comment #16My Grandad worked at Avro during the war building Lancasters. He couldn’t serve due to a dodgy knee. He fell from one of the high gantries messing round trying to impress my Nan and broke his back, back at work in three weeks.
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:08 PM
Comment #17This is wierd – it’s like watching a Premier League game in an alternate Universe
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:08 PM
Comment #18Aye men were men in those days
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Comment #19France seem happy to scope out Belgium and let them run down their energy. Have to be on point though, Hazard and De Bruyne are just wading through players
Bobbybee
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Comment #20Rob, lol, spent last night in hospital again with the same thing – fractured spine. Nothing major, just one of the vertebrae again due to the osteoporosis. Still got a month before kick off though so every cloud etc 🙂
I wasn’t trying to impress your gran though, I promise!
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Comment #21Warning shot across the bow
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:18 PM
Comment #22Bobby – I think this is the tech you need.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44628872
Development as usual will be spurred on by military application but I can envisage a near future where this will be defacto and the motorised cart and wheelchair will be special order or museum exhibits!
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Comment #23I somehow think this will not be a goalless game in normal time.
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:20 PM
Comment #24Lol Bobby, you’d struggle, believe me…. Even when she was alive she was a hard woman to please.
Hope you’re feeling ok. You have to stay fit to give Southgate moody glares through the telly tomorrow night
😉
Tsunki
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:21 PM
Comment #25France struggling here dear oh dear they will be hoping they run out of steam.
lochinvar
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:25 PM
Comment #26Spam mail is everywhere these days. This lot are a loose canon.
Junk box.
West Ham are in discussions with Lazio to sign midfielder Felipe Anderson for a club record fee of around £40m.
The Hammers have already signed Jack Wilshere and Ryan Fredericks on free transfers this summer, plus spent £29m on Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski.
They are also close to completing the £17m transfer of Ukraine forward Andriy Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund.
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:26 PM
Comment #27Is this the same Belgium that nearly got beaten by Japan? They look well up for it
TomaKaThor
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:28 PM
Comment #28Not sure who I would prefer to play, I’m leaning towards hopefully Belgium to win and De Bruyne to get injured 🙂
Jib
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:29 PM
Comment #29Belgium must be struggling for national symbolism
when someone has to have a depiction of the Atomium
on their hat.
The Belgian Expo was in 1958 ffs
martoon
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:33 PM
Comment #30Jib @2 – Funnily enough Jail House Rock was No. 1 on the day I was born (that gives away my age)
Optimistic Panda
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:35 PM
Comment #31I fancy France to win over 90mins
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:37 PM
Comment #32Who was after calf strains?
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:40 PM
Comment #33Bobby, Tsunki this is what we need
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aivvwBM5h_Y
We’ve just got to get you accepted in the Dubai Police and we’re laughing
lukes26
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:44 PM
Comment #34Some outstanding goalkeeping in this game
Dembele not having a great game.. France are frightening on the counter
Bobbybee
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:47 PM
Comment #35Tsunki, sounds ideal mate, wonder if they need any Guinea pigs? 🙂 I’d give it a go for sure. Thing with osteoporosis is you don’t get impact fractures, it’s just the structure of the bone that splits. Fourth time now! I’m lucky compared to some apparently. Obviously any serious accident could be deadly, but as my gymnastic days are over and mountaineering is out of the question, I can’t imagine any situation where I could break a limb – excluding another RTA or similar, but we all have that issue.
Those devices though could have me running around again like Robocop. 🙂 (Dread to imagine the cost though!!!)
To all WUM’s, I could send out the message. “Lay down your keyboard. You have twenty seconds to comply”. (Just give me a hand strapping on this eskoskeleton before I blast you please) 🙂
Bobbybee
Jul 10, 2018 at 7:56 PM
Comment #36Rob – yes please! Who needs a bloody wheelchair when you’ve got that eh? Lmao. Technology is literally flying along now, no pun intended. Won’t be long before that esckoskeleton thing Tsunki posted is reduced in bulk and made into a viable product for people like myself. Too late for me, but nice thought that people in the future won’t have to struggle just to move around. Pity it takes military applications to boost medical projects.
RobLeenio
Jul 10, 2018 at 8:04 PM
Comment #37Has any football team ever lost to a team in a World Cup group match and then played that same team again and won in the final?
That’ll test someone’s memory. I have no idea of the answer but am interested to know.
DubaiMicky
Jul 10, 2018 at 8:04 PM
Comment #38Well who’d have thought it, Tsunki is a Pink Floyd fan.
Bobbybee
Jul 10, 2018 at 8:04 PM
Comment #39Can’t see this game finishing nil nil. There’s enough quality out there to result in a goal or two. Regardless who wins, gonna be a tough final for whoever gets there.
Imagine England v Belgium. Two managers who have been relegated from the PL fighting it out to see who wins the WC!! Funny old game as they say. 🙂
DubaiMicky
Jul 10, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Comment #40BTW, I stand by what I said a few posts back, 0-0, France to win on Penalties.