Chelsea want Jamaal Lascelles as club looks to bolster defence with summer transfer swoop for Newcastle captain

Chelsea are monitoring Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles.

The club are keen to add another centre half to the ranks and have been admirers of Lascelles since 2016, and could make a move for the 24-year-old this summer.

Chelsea want to add more English players to their squad - it was one of the factors why they bought Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley in the past two transfer windows.

They are also committed to lowering the age of the side, especially with two of their current centre halfs over 30.

Gary Cahill, the club captain, turns 33 in December, while David Luiz will be 31 in April. Neither are assured of a place in the starting line-up.

Lascelles has impressed for Newcastle in the Premier League this term and the club made a strong move to protect their asset by giving him a new six-year contract in October.

The 24-year-old was also given a pay-rise, although it is believed to be no more than £50,000-a-week.

Chelsea can comfortably pay more than that as they have shown by giving Barkley in excess of £100,000-a-week following his £15m switch from Everton in January.

Newcastle are not encouraging any bids for a player that has been tipped for an England call-up sooner rather than later.

Lascelles is also a huge fan of Newcastle coach Rafael Benitez, who named him captain in 2016.

But there is still speculation over whether Benitez will remain in charge at St James' Park should the club's proposed takeover by Amanda Staveley fail to materialise.

​Benitez has been frustrated with the transfer spending under current owner Mike Ashley and there is increasing talk he could leave in the summer.

The former Chelsea coach sees Lascelles as key to his plans and would not want him sold under any circumstances. Significantly, the defender enjoys playing under him.

But if Benitez is no longer in charge, that will improve Chelsea's chances of luring him away from Newcastle.