Chancel Mbemba has made only one appearance in all competitions for Newcastle United in this calendar year, which came in his side’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup on 23 January.
The Congolese international arrived at St James’ Park from Anderlecht for €12m in 2015. However, the 23-year-old has struggled for regular playing time at the Tyneside club. He has been in action for just 672 minutes in the Premier League this term.
Het Belang van Limburg reported on Thursday that Mbemba’s former club, Standard Liege, Anderlecht and Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are interested in signing the defender. The same report also suggested the player has decided against returning to Belgium because he does not want to be seen as a failure.
There is a fresh development surrounding Mbemba’s future, if today’s report from another Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws is to be believed. They claim the Newcastle defender’s agent is looking for a “solution” for Mbemba, following his restricted playing time with the Magpies.
HLN claims Mbemba’s agent has offered him to Anderlecht and Standard Liege. However, the two clubs have turned down the opportunity in signing the African defender as he is not viewed as a priority signing this summer.
That somewhat contradicts the claims, but both angles have the same outcome: Mbemba probably won’t be returning to Belgium.
