Newcastle United are interested in signing Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji but the defender is on Liverpool’s radar too.
After 11 games in this Premier League season, it’s clear that Liverpool need defensive reinforcements more than Newcastle United.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds may be six places better off in fifth but they’ve also conceded seven more goals than Rafa Benitez’s newly promoted Magpies. In fact, Liverpool’s record of 17 goals conceded is the second worst in the top half. Newcastle, in contrast, boast the joint-fifth best defensive record in the league so far.
Nonetheless, it appears that both clubs are in the race for Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji despite their differing fortunes in the defensive side of the game this season.
Turkish Football reported last week that Newcastle were among five Premier League clubs interested in the £10 million-rated powerhouse. And the outlet now claims that Liverpool have joined the race.
Tug of war
Mbodji’s agent, Ediz Balkan, admitted that he had held talks with representatives from a number of English teams recently and it is understood that interest has intensified after Mbodji scored a last-minute winner for Senegal against South Africa over the international break, securing his nation’s place at the 2018 World Cup.
Mbodji is a powerful and aggressive defender who helped Anderlecht win the Belgian league title last season while also reaching the quarter-finals for the Europa League.
Liverpool have a clear advantage for now, however, unless the takeover of Newcastle is completed before January. Though if The Magpies do have new, affluent owners by the New Year, beating a Premier League giant to a highly-rated centre-back it would be a fine way to ring in a new era.
Benitez has been left frustrated with Newcastle’s inability to afford top level players but a potential takeover, and a bigger transfer budget, would give the Spaniard the chance to really prove his pulling power.
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