Mbemba’s on-off deal in the balance as United look to sell

NEWCASTLE United want to sell Chancel Mbemba – and hope to make their money back.

The 23-year-old is available, with Rafa Benitez deeming the centreback surplus to requirements.

Last week, Newcastle appeared confident Mbemba would depart by the end of the month, but his transfer to Porto hit a sticking point.

The Portuguese champions are unwilling to match United’s £8m price – the figure Newcastle paid Anderlecht three summers ago – and are offering only around £6m.

Negotiations with Porto remain ongoing, with the defender himself believed to have already agree personal terms.

Turkish outfit Trabzonspor are keen to take him on loan, but Newcastle would prefer to sell. The Magpies are only expected to countenance a loan later in the window, should they fail to find a permanent suitor.

Clubs in Belgium, Scotland, France and Germany have shown interest in Mbemba.

In recent months, the Democratic Republic of Congo defender has found himself exiled from matchday squads and he failed to make a Premier League appearance in 2018.

Mbemba played just 11 times in all competitions for Newcastle last season, with his last the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea in January.

Benitez knows he must reduce Newcastle’s wage bill this summer in order to free up space for new players’ salaries – with Mbemba identified as one of the Magpies he must move on.

The Magpies had the highest ever wage budget the EFL has ever seen in 2016/17, and it remained inflated in the Premier League last season too.