Newcastle United are close to selling Matz Sels and Chancel Mbemba to Anderlecht in a double deal, according to HLN.
The print edition of the Belgian newspaper (6 June) claims that an agreement is in place with goalkeeper Sels, 26, and the club are “doing everything” to secure the signature of defender Mbemba, 23.
HLN report that only the final details remain to agree terms with both players and Anderlecht will then discuss a package deal with Newcastle.
OPINION
It appears to be only a matter of time before Sels and Mbemba complete their permanent returns to the country where they established their reputations. Sels had a fine 2017-18 season on loan at Anderlecht after a difficult debut campaign at St James’ Park following his 2016 arrival from Belgium. It now appears likely that teammate Mbemba will snub alternative offers from Club Brugge and Standard Liege to join the keeper at the side who finished third in last season’s Jupiler League. Like Sels, the defender is way down the pecking order at Newcastle and it is telling that he did not make the matchday squad on a single occasion in the second half of last season. With Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark ahead of him, Mbemba needs a move to reignite his career. Will the pair be missed? Not really. It will agonise the board, notably owner Mike Ashley, that both will be sold at a loss, but that is inevitable when they are so far off Rafael Benitez’s starting XI.
