According to the club’s official media partner (The Mirror), Rafa Benitez is set to reward Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett with new five-year deals at the club, which are set to be finalised this week.
Starting with Lascelles, the 23-year-old has undoubted room for improvement, but has been a model professional at the club ever since breaking onto the scene at the back end of the 2015/16 season.
He was rewarded with the captains armband this time last summer and, despite his flaws, proved to be a big contributor to our promotion winning campaign last season.
Paul Dummett may divide opinion, but he was Benitez’s most used player last season and despite his offensive limitations, kept a string of Championship wingers quiet last season with some solid defensive displays.
Both are honest, hard working and committed players who played through the pain barrier to get Newcastle back to the Premier League last season.
They may not represent ‘signings’ many Newcastle fans want to see right now, but must not forget that strength in depth and commitment to the cause are two important traits of a solid Premier League squad.
