Newcastle United's summer rebuild is already beginning to take shape as Eddie Howe seeks, first, to keep hold of experienced heads, before signing fresh faces in a few months time.
The beginning of April brought the announcement Fabian Schar had penned an extension on Tyneside, while earlier this week Chronicle Live reported that Jamaal Lascelles, another poised to leave the club on a free this summer, had quietly signed a new deal at St James' Park.
The two Newcastle stalwarts have enjoyed very different periods under Howe of late, with Schar continuing to command a place in the starting XI, with Lascelles having to make do with a prolonged period on the sidelines as he recovers from a nasty Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.
The veteran defender has not featured in 13 months and may not be fully fit enough to play under Howe until the start of next season. There is also an argument to suggest Lascelles is now Newcastle's fifth-choice option at the heart of the defence when all options are fit and available.
However, the news that Lascelles has extended his stay at St James' Park should come as no surprise, in truth. Howe, ever since arriving on these shores, has repeatedly rewarded experienced, dressing room leaders - even if they are not in his immediate first-team plans.
Lascelles remains a core member of the club's 'leadership group' and acts as a mentor for the younger stars in the squad. His training effort is exemplary and Howe sees the benefit of having figures such as he, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie in and around the dressing room and training facilities.
However, Lascelles' extension comes with much-needed context. There is no suggestion a new deal means Newcastle will abandon plans to rebuild their defence with the addition of a new central defender after recently missing out on the likes of Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov in recent months.
To add, in the world of PSR, allowing players to walk on a free isn't smart business practice. Lascelles has recently attracted interest from sides both in England and Turkey, and while he would only attract a minimal fee at the age of 31, every penny counts these days.
"We are hoping to get him to join in and competing before the end of the season whether that ties in with the team and whether he gets there in time for competitive action we will see. He is a huge leader and very popular within the group," Howe said recently.
"He has a big presence and I was delighted he got to lift the cup with the other guys. He deserved that moment for the length of time he has been here and the service he has given."
