Newcastle United goalkeeper Matz Sels has reached a verbal agreement to complete a permanent move to Anderlecht this summer, according to HLN.
The Belgian newspaper, as translated by Sport Witness, claim that the 26-year-old stopper has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal to stay at Anderlecht, where he has spent this season on loan.
HLN report that it is now a waiting game to see whether the Magpies can agree a fee with the Belgian club, who are reluctant to stump up the £3.5million asking price.
It is said that Sels may have to wait until after the World Cup for his future to be settled, with the goalkeeper part of Roberto Martinez’s provisional 27-man Belgium squad.
Good move for Newcastle United?
Considering the fact that Sels has made just 14 appearances for the club since joining in 2016, then yes.
The Belgian goalkeeper was not quite up to scratch for the Magpies, who ended up reverting to Rob Elliott and Karl Darlow as their two first-choice stoppers.
Sels has excelled for Anderlecht this season and his form has seen him do enough to make the provisional Belgian squad, but it would be in the best interests of all involved if he were to leave this summer.
A £3.5million asking price seems reasonable, especially considering the reported £6million [Transfermarkt] the Magpies paid two years ago will see them take a £2.5million hit.
Nothing but Newcastle rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
It looks like this one is on the way to completion, although Anderlecht refusal to pay up so far may prove to be an issue yet.
Newcastle will be unlikely to budge on their very reasonable asking price, and it will come down to the Belgian club and their resources to work this one out.
Nothing but Newcastle rating: 7/10
