According to leading Belgian outlet HLN, Newcastle have offered a ‘package deal’ to allow Anderlecht to sign BOTH Chancel Mbemba and Matz Sels for just €8m this summer.
Now, don’t get me wrong, these are two players who appear to have no future under Rafa Benitez, so it’s in our interests to cash in on both, but this would see us recouping just £7m for the two – a fee that seems too little for Mbemba alone.
The report states that a deal for Sels to join Anderlecht permanently is already agreed, however it seems we’ve now offered them Mbemba as well – a player they’re also believed to be keen on re-signing this summer.
Cutting the wage bill and recouping some cash is key this summer so I wouldn’t be against getting both of our books (even if Mbemba seems like a case of what could’ve been), but I can’t help but feel we’d be leaving ourselves highly short changed if we did allow this.
Mbemba may have been a complete outcast at NUFC over the past 6 months, but he’s just 23, has proven he’s capable of playing at Premier League level and, in this day and age, must be valued at around £10m alone?
Selling him and a 26-year-old Belgian international goalkeeper for a combined £7m seems barmy in this day and age, and it seems NUFC fans are all thinking the same too:
Hugely disappointing if we lose both for that. Sels has no future here and Mbemba clearly doesn't now either, but he's a talent and has proven he can play in the PL. Thought he'd be worth £10m on his own tbh… https://t.co/PQ4cqJ2gdn
— تيوتي (C) (@TheTioteRole) May 24, 2018
Out of favour or not, €8m is a bargain for two fairly young internationals with CL experience. Mbemba, with all the raw components, is one that NUFC could end up regretting – a la Thauvin – but it’s simply not worked out
— Ben Spratt (@bensprattjourn) May 24, 2018
