Everton boss Marco Silva preparing £30million bid for Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles
There is uncertainty at St James' Park over the future of Rafael Benitez while Silva is getting his feet under the desk at Goodison Park
MARCO SILVA is set to take advantage of uncertainty at Newcastle with a £30million bid for Jamaal Lascelles.
The Toon captain is the player Silva wants to bolster his defence after arriving at Goodison Park.
He is looking for a long-term partner for Michael Keane as Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka are getting towards the end of their careers.
Rafa Benitez’s future as boss at St James’ Park is still unclear as he has not agreed a new contract.
And Lascelles, 24, is among the players who may look at their future as the gaffer’s talks rumble on.
Liverpool have also tracked Lascelles during a season where Gareth Southgate considered him for an England call-up.
Dream Team World Cup - Sign up to win £100k
- Enter for FREE
- £50m budget and 20 transfers throughout the tournament
- Play to win £100k top price and a share of £175k prizepot
TRANSFER NEWS
Silva has been tasked with changing the style of football that was hated by Everton fans under Sam Allardyce.
Big Sam led the Toffees to an eighth-place finish, but fans regularly criticised his team's lack of flair.
PICK OF THE BUNCH Bayern Munich will scout Jordan Pickford at World Cup with fears over Manuel Neuer
Silva said after he was announced as boss: "We want to build a great connection between the squad and the fans, and I'm sure that with our attitude and demands of commitment then our style of play will see that, I believe.
"Everton is a really ambitious club and that is what I want. What we are seeing now are good changes at the club.
"The club is changing its approach."
Speaking at the end of the season, Toon boss Rafa Benitez was confident club captain Lascelles would stay at St James' Park.
The Spaniard said: "I think he will stay here, and hopefully for the long term.
"He has huge potential and big clubs will look at him because he is a young, English centre-back.
"It is not easy to find good centre-backs who can play well in the Premier League, especially not English ones, and it’s even harder to find young ones.
"He has all the attributes to be a target for all top teams because you can see from his performances over the last two years he keeps getting better and better.
"But I think that for his future, and for his development, that he stays in a place where he can play and he can improve and continue to keep getting better with us.
"I think he understands that too. He seems happy and he is learning all the time, so I hope he stays for a long time."
