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Jamaal Lascelles has given the strongest indication yet that his long-term future remains with Newcastle United.

The 24-year-old has been linked with Chelsea, West Ham United, Arsenal and Everton in recent months following his impressive displays during the Magpies’ successful top-flight campaign.

Lascelles led United to a 10th-placed finish, just a season after helping the club to promotion at the first time of asking, and he has improved immeasurably under Rafa Benitez’s tutelage.

The centre-back’s relationship with Benitez has been crucial to the Magpies’ success and, given the positive soundings that have now emerged from St James’ Park that the Newcastle manager is set to remain in place for the 2018/19 campaign, Lascelles intends to continue developing under the Spaniard.

Clearly Lascelles relishes the responsibility Benitez has bestowed upon him, and the defender still has unfinished business on Tyneside.

“This is the happiest I’ve been,” Lascelles replied with a beaming smile when asked about the speculation over his future.

“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.”

Promotion and then a 10th-placed finish have both been excellent achievements in their own right for Newcastle over the course of the past two seasons.

But, like Benitez, Lascelles sees the untapped potential at what he describes as a “massive” club. He wants to continue pushing Newcastle further up the table, before hopefully challenging for trophies with the Magpies in the future.

“This is the right club for me at the right time,” Lascelles added.

“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.”