Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba has been told not to return to training, according to the Northern Echo.
The regional newspaper state that Rafa Benitez is willing to sell the 23-year-old centre-back but despite attracting interest, the Magpies have not received an acceptable bid for his services as of yet.
The Northern Echo report that FC Porto are keen to sign Mbemba with the Chronicle previously claiming that the defender was pushing for a move to the Portuguese giants.
OPINION
It seems the Magpies need to hope that Porto put in a respectable bid for Mbemba shortly or everyone involved in this deal is going to be left with egg on their faces. The Chronicle’s report states that Porto have agreed personal terms with the defender but haven’t been able to agree a price with the Magpies for the senior player’s services. If the Portuguese giants aren’t able to find common ground with the Premier League side then Mbemba will be stuck at the club. It seems odd that the player has been told not to attend training as if a deal can’t be done with Porto then he won’t come across as an attractive prospect for other clubs to swoop in and make a move for it, as there could then be doubts about his fitness. While Benitez may not want players around his squad who are staring at the exit door, it just seems a bold move to tell a player not to attend training. It suggests that the Magpies are very confident that Porto will soon cave and match the club’s demand for Mbemba.
