The Newcastle United centre-back has been linked with a return to Anderlecht.
When Newcastle United suffered the ignominy of relegation last season, the fans could at least fall back on the knowledge that their beloved Magpies could rely upon one of their most impressive defenders in recent seasons to help them climb the latter once more.
Yet, Chancel Mbemba’s second season on Tyneside has not lived up to expectations so far with the commendable form of Ciaran Clark ensuring the Congolese centre-back has been left warming the bench rather than powering into opponents in the Championship.
As it stands, the 27-year-old has only started seven games under Rafa Benitez this season, the last coming in the 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in November, and The Chronicle reports that former club Anderlecht want to take advantage of his ongoing omission and bring him back to Belgium on loan.
Mbemba may have fallen down the pecking order at St James’ but that does not mean the fans are ready to accept a potential departure, however.
The no-nonsense centre-back, a hugely popular figure amongst supporters, was arguably Newcastle’s most reliable player last season, a pillar of consistency among the chaos. Therefore, Rafa Benitez’s popularity on Tyneside may take a bit of a hit if he was to sanction the departure of one of the few competent defenders to don the black and white stripes this side of the century.
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