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Everton manager Marco Silva wants Newcastles Jamaal Lascelles as £30m first signing

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Marco Silva wants £30m Newcastle star to transform Everton style — Jamaal Lascelles was an outside contender to be named in Gareth Southgates England squad for the World Cup (Getty Images)

Newly-installed Everton manager Marco Silva wants to make Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles his first signing at the club, according to reports.

Silva was named Toffees manager last week following the departure of Sam Allardyce at the end of last season and has since identified the Magpies centre-back has his first potential signing.

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The former Watford manager wants to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the future of Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez and the continued ownership of the club by Mike Ashley.

Benitez, a fan-favourite at St James Park, has yet to agree a new contract at the club after comfortably steering them to Premier League safety last season with the Spaniard harbouring concerns over his backing in the transfer market.

Newcastle United's Spanish manager Rafael Benitez applauds at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 7, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Geoff CADDICK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / GEOFF CADDICK/AFP/Getty Images — Newcastle fans showed overwhelming support for Rafa Benitez at the end of last season (Getty Images)

According to The Sun, Everton will test Newcastles resolve by making a bid of around £30 million for the 24-year-old defender.

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Silva wants Lascelles to be the long-term central defensive partner for Michael Keane, who was signed in a similar deal with Burnley last season but has yet failed to live up his £30m price tag on Merseyside.

The Portuguese is believed to be concerned at the performances of ageing Everton centre-backs Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams.

Chelsea have also recently been linked with a move for Lascelles, but those reports have cooled off as the Blues continue to delay the inevitable departure of Antonio Conte and the appointment of a new manager.

MORE: Everton fan jailed for fighting Lyon players while holding a child

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