Anderlecht’s in-demand centre-back Kara Mbodji appears set on a Premier League move – though Crystal Palace have an advantage over Sunderland.
When you’re nicknamed ‘The King’, it’s surely only natural that you’d start to believe your own hype. Yet, according to HLN, Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji is perhaps starting to let all the adulation get in the way of what is truly important – producing solid defensive performances.
It can’t be simple coincidence that Mbodji’s performances have dropped off since reports of a move to the Premier League intensified in January. HLN reported on the final day of the transfer window that Crystal Palace had a £10 million offer for Mbodji rejected.
But as Mbodji’s solid display in Anderlecht’s 1-1 Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw with Manchester United last week demonstartes, Mbodji is clearly Premier League quality – when he puts his mind to it.
Mbodji’s admission that he could finally make the move this summer, therefore, will not go unnoticed.
“England is one of my ambitions,” the 31-time Senegal international told HLN. “In the past, I had the chance to go there but then it did not happen. Maybe this summer though.”
With Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce admitting that their chances of turning Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho’s sensational loan deal into a permanent transfer are slim at best, there is a chance The Eagles will return for Mbodji.
However, it appears that Sunderland have missed their chance. The Black Cats are clearly in need of a new centre-half with John O’Shea ageing and injury prone and Lamine Kone seemingly certain to depart.
The Chronicle claims that Sunderland manager David Moyes wanted to take Mbodji on loan in January but, this time around, it appears that Anderlecht would demand a permanent deal.
And with huge debts restricting Sunderland to bargain deals, the chances of them landing a player supposedly worth more than £10 million looks unlikely.
Crystal Palace may find that they have much less competition for Mbodji’s signature.
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