Jamaal Lascelles negotiates £4m Premier League survival bonus for Newcastle squad
JAMAAL LASCELLES has negotiated his Newcastle team-mates a £4million survival bonus from Mike Ashley.
That is on top of the £20m windfall Ashley has offered them for winning the FA Cup.
Toon skipper Lascelles spoke to the club's owner by phone to thrash out the bonus structure for this season.
SunSport revealed on Sunday that Ashley will dish out £20m between the players if they win the FA Cup for the first time in 62 years.
But Newcastle's squad will also share a pot of £4m if they finish in 17th, and an extra £1m for every place above that.
In the past, Ashley has only handed out bonuses for a top-half finish in the Premier League.
Toon stars are pleased with the resolution, which has come about after weeks of talks with St James' Park chiefs.
The row over bonuses had unsettled the dressing room over the summer, with some senior players unhappy with the club's initial offer.
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Meanwhile, Lascelles could soon be set for a nice cash windfall himself.
Following his match winning display against Swansea on Sunday, we reported on how he had begun contract talks with the Magpies.
The 23-year-old still has three years left on his current deal at St. James’ Park.
But he is now due to receive a pay rise following discussions with club officials.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez made Lascelles captain in 2016 and views the centre-half as a key figure inside the dressing-room.
The ex-Nottingham Forest man has been linked with Premier League Chelsea and Liverpool over the past year.
And after he has continued to impress following the return to the top-flight, Toon chiefs want to secure his long-term future at the club.
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