The Mirror have revealed that Chancel Mbemba has now agreed a four year deal to join Porto – claiming that the Portuguese giants look set to pay £8m to sign the 23-year-old centre-back from Newcastle.
Mbemba had looked set to join Anderlecht, but it’s perhaps just as well he didn’t given Porto’s offer looks set to be considerably more than what the Belgians were able to pay.
Here’s what Simon Bird – the Mirror’s North East correspondent – has had to say on his proposed move to Porto:
“Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba has agreed a four year deal with Porto.
“The Portuguese club is discussing a fee of around £8million for the 23 year-old.
“Congo international Mbemba is not in Rafa Benitez plans and is attracted by playing in the Champions’ League next season.”
Personally, I feel we could look back on this as a mistake – he’s a talented player and someone who could’ve become a very decent Premier League player – however I do think it’s right that we’ve cashed in if Rafa doesn’t want to play him.
On top of that, £8m seems a half decent fee given it sounded like we might’ve got just half of that from Anderlecht – although it’s still a snip in this day and age for a player of his age and potential.
Here’s the pretty mixed reaction from NUFC fans to news of the transfer fee involved:
Should stick a sell on clause in, he is young and 8m in today’s market is a snip.
— lee mc (@leemcder) June 13, 2018
Rafa never fancied him. £8m to go towards a new signing, though.
Still think we'll probably see Mbemba linked with a £20m + move in the coming years. Hope there's a sell-on clause in there somewhere. #NUFC https://t.co/A4BJUeueix— Kevin Doocey (@KevinDoocey) June 13, 2018
Always thought Mbemba could do a job, so tbh, £8m seems like a bargain for Porto #NUFC
— Stuart Herd (@Stuart_Herd) June 13, 2018
£8m for Mbemba. You'd hope #NUFC put a sell-on percentage in there but I'm not sure we know they exist.
— Marc Jobling (@MarcJobling) June 13, 2018
