Chancel Mbemba’s future at Newcastle seems to be all but over.
Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad have claimed Standard Liege and Anderlecht are both interested in signing Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba this summer.
The report claims Rafa Benitez has placed the 23-year-old powerhouse on the transfer list after failing to feature for the Toon in the Premier League in 2018, last playing in the 3-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea.
The DR Congo international has dropped down the pecking order with the likes of captain Jamaal Lascelles, Ireland international Ciaran Clark and summer signing Florian Lejeune preferred.
Now, Mbemba is set to leave St. James’ Park and a return to Belgium could be on the cards, after first joining Newcastle from Anderlecht in the summer of 2015.
It remains to be seen how much Newcastle will charge for Mbemba this summer, but the ball is certainly in their court with two years left on the five-year deal he signed when first moving to Tyneside – a contract the Daily Star claim is worth £30,000 a week.
During his difficult three-year stay at Newcastle, Mbemba has managed just 59 league and cup appearances and is likely to be keen to end his Toon nightmare. A return to Belgium may be considered a last resort, though, with the defender said to see a move to the country as a failure.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
