According to Lee Ryder, Newcastle look set to receive just £5m for the sale of Chancel Mbemba – however Newcastle are now set to ‘act quickly’ in an attempt to sign his replacement – with Rafa now hoping tie up bargain £3m deal for Deportivo’s Fabian Schar.
Mbemba’s move to Porto had been in the pipeline for several weeks, although the two clubs were left haggling over a fee. Our asking price was said to be £8m, but it seems as though we eventually buckled, selling for a fee that seems an absolute snip for a talented 23-year old in this day and age.
Now he’s gone a replacement must be signed and it looks like Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar is at the top of Rafa’s priority list, with The Chronicle confirming here that we are now expected to activate his £3m release clause:
“The final fee for Mbemba is believed to be around the £5million mark and his exit should signal the arrival of a defensive replacement.
“Newcastle are hoping to tie up a deal for Deportivo La Coruna centre-back Fabian Schar. The club are looking to activate his £3million release clause.”
Swansea’s Federico Fernandez has been mentioned as a back up option to Schar, whilst a free agent deal for Mexico’s Diego Reyes was touted once again last night, however it looks like a £3m move for the Deportivo defender is Rafa’s priority.
With time running out and a striker yet to be signed, let’s hope we can get Mbemba’s replacement in as soon as possible – especially when other clubs may be queuing up once they hear news of Schar’s cut-price clause (a fee which seems very small for a 26-year old full international).
