As Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba closes in on a move to Porto, it has been revealed that the Premier League defender has rejected the likes of Celtic and West Ham in order to move to Portugal. Although, the Bhoys shouldn’t be too disheartened with the news of his rejection.
As Sport Witness reports, Chancel Mbemba has rejected interest from a whole host of European clubs, opting to move to the Portuguese champions Porto, while the 23-year-old is undoubtedly a talented defender. Brendan Rodgers’ side shouldn’t be too disappointed with the news of his rejection.
Over the past two seasons, Mbemba has been reduced to a bit-part role with the Magpies, and while he flaunts several desirable qualities, he may not be the most appropriate option for Celtic – from a financial perspective.
The Democratic Republic of Congo defender is regarded for his versatility; he can play comfortably as a left-back or at the heart of defence. Additionally, he is appreciated for his dribbling capacity and his refined passing ability, especially his superb crosses.
However, it is rumoured – as the Mirror reports – that Mbemba’s fee has been agreed in the region of £8M. A fee of £8M represents a rather substantial investment in Scottish football, and with greater patience, and an observant eye, the Bhoys could arguably acquire two competent defenders for the same fee.
The key to Celtic’s success is to identify quality players at affordable prices, and there could be superior options available to the Bhoys than Mbemba. While considering Celtic’s defensive record last season, the arrival of another defender isn’t an immediate priority for the Bhoys. They should only acquire another centre-half at the right price, to augment their superb defensive unit. And, Mbemba doesn’t represent the best deal, given his reasonably pricey fee.
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