Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly looking at Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba as they eye defensive reinforcements.
Erik Sviatchenko has gone, Marvin Compper has barely arrived while Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Jack Hendry all came in for extensive criticism in the last few months. It’s fair to say that a new centre-back is needed at Celtic, then.
The Congolese talent, who Newcastle paid £8 million for in 2015 but who is valued at around £3 million now, has plenty of potential – but it should not be ignored that he has barely started a game since Rafa Benitez took over on Tyneside in March 2016.
So perhaps Celtic would be better off targeting the other centre-back that Newcastle might be willing to sell this summer – Ciaran Clark.
The Republic of Ireland is older at 28 but featured far more regularly for Newcastle last season, making 19 starts to Mbemba’s seven. And he was one of the standout players in 2016/17 as The Magpies won the Championship title while Mbemba was once again glued to the bench.
So while the former Anderlecht man Mbemba would arrive with his fair share of doubters, Clark would appear a safer bet and a man who could walk straight into Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI.
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