Chancel Mbemba’s last match for Newcastle United was during their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in January. That was his only appearance of this calendar year as he made 12 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies.
The Congolese international joined the Tyneside club from Anderlecht in 2015. After failing to impress under Rafael Benitez, the 23-year-old could leave the Premier League club this summer.
Despite the lack of playing time, Mbemba is not short of suitors. Belgium newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported that Standard Liege have joined Club Brugge and the defender’s former club in securing his services.
The same report claims that Mbemba was “charmed” after Standard Liege chairman Bruno Venanzi and new coach Michel Preud’homme “had a personal meeting” with the player. DH have also confirmed in their report that Venanzi and Preud’homme met the Newcastle defender.
The player’s agent has already offered his client to the three clubs and so far, none of them have turned down the opportunity to sign Mbemba. He is also attracting interest from clubs outside Belgium, but the “concrete offers” come from Standard Liege, Anderlecht and Club Brugge.
Anderlecht striker Lukasz Teodorczyk earns €2m-a-year and is currently the highest paid player in Belgium. DH claim that Standard Liege, Anderlecht and Club Brugge want to make Mbemba the highest paid defender in the division. He is expected to wait for “more than a week” before making a decision on his future.
