Should West Ham United have a look at Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba?
There is every chance that Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba won’t be able to get a game under Rafael Benitez in the near future.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo international has impressed in a left-back role this season but Paul Dummett’s return next month is likely to see Mbemba – kept out of the side at centre-back by Jamal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark – revert back to the bench.
With that in mind you could forgive the former Anderlecht defender if he sought a move away from Newcastle in January – and West Ham United might be able to offer him an escape route when the transfer window re-opens.
West Ham aren’t short of centre-backs but it is time that the Irons began planning for the future because 34-year-old James Collins and Jose Fonte – who turns 34 in December – aren’t getting any younger. Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna both turn 30 next summer.
Experience is a huge attribute for a centre-back, but so is speed and fitness and the fact is that the Hammers’ quartet are only going to slow down in both respects from here on in.
Despite not getting a game at Newcastle, Mbmeba remains an excellent central defender who can and will get better with regular games under his belt.
He also looked very decent in the three games in which Benitez played him at left-back, making him a safer option than Arthur Masauku – defensively, at least.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic could do a lot worse than Mbemba – contracted until 2020 – in January.
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