Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has insisted Liverpool target Jamaal Lascelles will not leave St James Park this summer.

Lascelles has emerged as a target for the Reds after a brilliant season with the Magpies, in which he captained them to a top-half finish.

Chelsea are also thought to be keen to land the 22-year-old star, who has already made over 100 appearances for the Magpies.

However, Benitez – who has managed both Liverpool and Chelsea in the past – says the Englishman is going nowhere.

The Toon boss said: “He’s quite young to play that amount of games.

“Hopefully he can be here for 500 games or more. To be a leader on and off the pitch for a young player is great.

“He is still learning but he can get better, on the pitch and off it.”

Lascelles joined Newcastle in 2014 from Nottingham Forest in a deal believed to be worth around £2 million, but his value has drastically increased over the past two seasons since becoming a key member of Rafael Benitez’s rapidly improving squad.

The Magpies are now thought to value Lascelles in excess of £20 million, and will reject any approach for the player this summer so that he remains a Newcastle player next season.