Rafa Benitez, manager of Premier League giants Newcastle United, reportedly wants to sell defender Chancel Mbemba with Celtic a potential destination.
Chancel Mbemba remains a firm favourite amongst Newcastle United supporters despite his lack of first-team opportunities since Rafa Benitez arrived on Tyneside.
In the last two seasons, the affable centre-back has made a grand total of 19 league starts, and he has not been seen in a Newcastle shirt since January’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
So it is no surprise that Benitez plans to sell Mbemba this summer, according to The Chronicle. And it should not raise too many eyebrows either to learn that Celtic are interested in offering the former Anderlecht talent a new home.
The Hoops are looking for new additions to a rather lightweight defence with Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko all linked with moves away from Parkhead. And Mbemba is a somewhat typical Brendan Rodgers signing; he’s young, promising and has plenty of potential ready to be tapped into by a manager who specialises in putting waning talents back on track.
Mbemba might not have played too often under Benitez at Newcastle but, during his first few months at St James’ Park after his £8 million move from Belgium in 2015, the 23-year-old shone brighter than perhaps anyone else in Steve McClaren’s squad.
Mbemba appeared to be a defender who had it all – and his omission under Benitez has continued to divide fans despite the Spaniard’s messiah-esque status in the north of England.
The Congo international is still very young for a top level centre-back and has a long time to hone his talents. And, after a few months under Rodgers, it is not inconceivable that Newcastle fans could be wondering why their club let Mbemba go.
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