Newcastle Transfers: 5 Championship Players To Target This Summer

3. Jamaal Lascelles

A physically imposing, ball playing defender in the mould of Vincent Kompany this has been a breakout season for Lascelles who has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs for some time. Strong in the tackle and aerially dominant, the 20-year-old also boasts an impressive turn of speed and has caught the eye at Nottingham Forest this season by shackling some of the deadliest strikers in the Championship revealing a maturity that belies his tender years. Lascelles was linked with a move to Newcastle in January and it's possible that we will explore the option of bringing him to St James' this summer to provide much-needed defensive cover for Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, who are both are peering over the wrong side of 30, while it's uncertain whether Steven Taylor and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will be at the club come next season meaning the need for Pardew to reinforce his auxiliary options has never been greater. With plenty of scope to improve and iron out the kinks in his game that will be exposed in the top-flight - he has a tendency to be over-eager when attempting to regain the ball for his team - Lascelles is exactly the type of prospect that we should be looking to sign with the future in mind.