The Newcastle fans in the Transfer Tavern will be delighted with the news emerging from The Mirror which claims Chancel Mbemba is nearing an £8 million switch to Porto as Rafa Benitez prepares to raise some transfer funds. The defender has been frozen out by the Spanish gaffer and the fans will be pleased to see the back of him.
Mbemba has potential but his unwillingness to learn English (communication is key in defence), apparent late arrivals to training and lack of positional discipline mean he was never going to make it under Rafa.
£8m is a good deal for both clubs. #NUFC
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) June 13, 2018
This season under Benitez, Florian Lejeune and Jamaal Lascelles struck up quite the partnership at the heart of the Geordies defence and with Mbemba’s late arrivals to training, lack of positional discipline and unwillingness to learn English, it’s easy to see why the Congolese defender failed to make a lasting impression on his manager. At the age of just 23, though, the young centre-half can still make a career for himself, despite his Newcastle setback.
Newcastle’s current wage bill of around £95 million is holding back Benitez and the club in the transfer market and getting fringe players like Mbema off of it will be crucial in the long run. The deal suits all parties as Porto need defensive reinforcements, Newcastle want him off the wage bill and Mbemba himself is keen on the idea of playing Champions League football next season with the Portuguese champions.
You can read our local Magpies’ comments on Mbemba’s imminent Porto transfer here:
Probably but his value won’t go up any higher while he’s here. Get rid and replace with someone Rafa wants
— JDN (@JDN_4321) June 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/sdhenderson1990/status/1007165086522314754
https://twitter.com/Phillwillkill/status/1007035692159991809
Completely agree
— Max Sheppard (@AintNobodyJonjo) 13 June 2018
https://twitter.com/adamswest_/status/1007003836811227136
https://twitter.com/DanSnowden/status/1006996959226466305
Why didn't he want to learn English? That's just too important.
— Diego Araya (@diegoavnet93) June 13, 2018
The Newcastle fans seem to have come to terms with the fact Mbemba won’t be a Newcastle player for very long, and considering the trust they place in Benitez, it’s a decision that they’re happy to get behind.
