Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in re-signing Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles.

The centre-back progressed through the Forest academy system before he made his senior debut for the club in January 2012.

Lascelles joined Newcastle in the summer of 2014, but he immediately returned to the City Ground on a season-long loan deal.

Since departing the East Midlands, Lascelles has featured in 222 games for Newcastle, but he has fallen down the pecking order at St James' Park during the current campaign.

Eddie Howe has favoured the central defensive pairing of Fabian Schar and Sven Botman, which has restricted Lascelles to just eight competitive appearances this season.

The 29-year-old, who has also had to settle for one Premier League start this term, has less than 18 months left on his current contract.

Newcastle are reportedly prepared to sell Lascelles in the summer transfer window, as they look to offload players that have been deemed surplus to requirements.

According to Football Insider, Forest are considering a summer move for their former defender, who previously made 65 appearances for the club.

Although Steve Cooper's side have signed the likes of Felipe, Willy Boly and Moussa Niakhate across the last two transfer windows, they have struggled in the defensive third this season.

After conceding 42 goals in 24 league games - including four in Saturday's defeat to West Ham United - Forest share the second-worst defensive record in the top flight with Leicester City, and as a result, they are keen to strengthen their backline in the summer.

Having recently signed Jonjo Shelvey and Chris Wood from Newcastle, Forest may be confident that they can get a deal over the line.

Lascelles is expected to be among the substitutes for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley.

Newcastle, who last won a domestic major trophy in 1955, are aiming to win the League Cup for the first time in their history. body check tags ::