No encouragement from Newcastle kingpin over Liverpool talk

Liverpool transfer target Jamaal Lascelles has given no indication he is ready to leave “massive” Newcastle United.

The England hopeful is on Jurgen Klopp’s wanted list, according to The Independent with Liverpool chasing a new centre-back.

Lascelles is one of two defensive targets on Klopp’s wanted list with Burnley’s James Tarkowski the other name in the frame as the Champions League finalists look for a long-term partner for Virgil van Dijk.

Toon skipper Lascelles though has not entertained the latest talk though, although it’s not clear just when the Newcastle Chronicle obtained the thoughts from the former Nottingham Forest man.

“This is the happiest I’ve been,” Lascelles told The Chronicle. “I’m playing week in, week out. And I’m the captain here, the fans love me, and I’ve got a good relationship with them because I love them. And we’re doing well, too.

“I’m very happy here. You hear things, you hear rumours and stuff, but I’m a young player and I need to be playing football at a good club – and that’s what this is.

“Overall it’s been an unreal season as far as I’m concerned, both for me personally, and more importantly for the club.”

Lascelles was linked with a £30million move to Chelsea in March by the Daily Mirror, while earlier this month the same tabloid claimed Everton were lining up a £25million move for the player, who was also understood to have been watched by Tottenham.

The centre-back, who made 35 appearances this season, seems more than happy on Tyneside with The Chronicle detailing a “beaming smile” when asked about all the speculation.

“This is the happiest I’ve been,” Lascelles added.

“I’m playing week in, week out. And I’m the captain here, the fans love me, and I’ve got a good relationship with them because I love them. And we’re doing well, too.

“I’m very happy here. You hear things, you hear rumours and stuff, but I’m a young player and I need to be playing football at a good club – and that’s what this is.

“Overall it’s been an unreal season as far as I’m concerned, both for me personally, and more importantly for the club.

“This is the right club for me at the right time We have a huge fanbase, an amazing manager, and this club is massive. It has so much history.

“As captain, I want to see how far we can go – and potentially take it back to where it belongs.”