Rafael Benitez addresses speculation Newcastle's £30m Jamaal Lascelles could move to Chelsea

Reports have suggested Chelsea are preparing a £30million summer bid and a lucrative pay offer to tempt Lascelles away from Tyneside

Jamaal Lascelles has been linked with a move away from St James' Park (Getty)

Rafael Benitez is confident skipper Jamaal Lascelles is happy at Newcastle despite speculation linking him with a big-money summer bid from Chelsea.

The 24-year-old central defender has been hugely impressive as the Magpies have eased their way towards Premier League safety and has been tipped to force his way into the England reckoning.

Reports have suggested Chelsea are preparing a £30million summer bid and a lucrative pay offer to tempt Lascelles away from Tyneside, but Benitez is convinced he is content where he is.

Asked about the speculation, the Spaniard said: "He's happy, training well, he's improving, he's focused. You can't stop speculation about players, but I was talking with him for a while last week and the focus is just trying to improve his game.

"I think at the moment he knows he has to continue progressing and learning, but he is quite happy here."

Lascelles arrived at St James from Nottingham Forest in a double deal with keeper Karl Darlow during the summer of 2014 with the pair immediately returning to the City Ground on season-long loan deals.

But it is under Benitez that he has established himself in the team, leading the club to promotion from the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt last season and then excelling as they have worked their way into the top 10 of the Premier League and 10 points clear of the relegation zone with six games remaining.