Forgotten NUFC stopper Matz Sels has insisted that his career at St James’ Park is not over just yet, stating that he remains grateful to Rafa Benitez for bringing him to the club – also feeling he has what it takes to become a success in the Premier League.
Despite making a £5m move from Genk in the summer of 2016, he played just 9 times during our year in the Championship, and was soon sent back to Belgium in the form of Anderlecht, joining them on loan last summer after a difficult first season in England.
The 26-year-old has since played 31 times for the Belgian giants, including Champions League appearances against Bayern Munich and PSG earlier in the season.
With his loan move to Anderlecht set to expire at the end of the season and his future at Newcastle up in the air, here’s what he’s said to SportFoot ahead of his return to Tyneside this summer:
“I want to know if the club wants to keep me. But I have not closed the chapter on Newcastle. I remain very grateful to Rafael Benitez for hiring me. “
“At the moment, I could make statements in all directions;I want to stay in Anderlecht, I want to leave, I want another club.
“But I have to wait. I depend on Newcastle’s project, to which I remain bound for several years. I have not had news in a few months but I do not let it get in my head.
“As soon as the club has ensured their stay in the Premier League, which seems well started, they will contact me.”
Matz Sels tells Sport/Foot magazine he's not finished with Newcastle and is grateful that Benitez took him there. He feels he can succeed in the PL (adding that he feels Mbemba is one of the club's best defenders). Sels has saved Anderlecht on several occasions this season. #nufc
— John Chapman (@BelgoFoot) April 18, 2018
So, he appears very much open to the idea of staying at Newcastle and reviving his short-lived career in England, but I can’t quite see it working out.
Martin Dubravka has been outstanding since arriving in January and looks all set to sign in the summer, and on top of him, we already have Elliot, Darlow and top talent Freddie Woodman on our books in the goalkeeping department.
He’s not been given a proper chance, but it’s a brutal business when it comes to goalkeepers, and he never looked comfortable.
I wouldn’t be opposed to giving him a second chance over pre-season, but it may be best for all parties if we cash in on him this summer.
