With Chancel Mbemba Mangulu set to become the latest big-money player to sign for Newcastle, we run the rule over the Congolese defender.
Aleksander Mitrovic has signed a long-term contract at St James’ Park and Chancel Mbemba is expected to follow closely in his footsteps and join from Belgian side Anderlecht. Mbemba is currently awaiting an FA hearing to begin his work permit application. Mbemba is potentially the most important of the three signings so far and could step straight into the first team. Here’s all you need to know about the man who could soon be the lynchpin in Newcastle’s (previously leaky) defence.
Biography:
Mbemba comes from the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa and left to join the Anderlecht youth set-up in 2011. Mbemba has played 66 times for Anderlecht since breaking into the first team in 2013 and this includes 11 Champions League appearances. He played in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal, where Mitrovic scored the late equaliser, although he was replaced in the second half as Anderlecht changed their shape to respond to Arsenal’s early goals. He had much more success against Turkish giants Galatasaray, winning the man of the match award home and away and scoring both goals in the 2-0 win in Belgium.
Mbemba has become a regular in the Congolese side and played in every game of their 2015 African Cup of Nations campaign. The DRC reached the semi-finals where they lost to the eventual winners the Ivory Coast. They triumphed in the third-place play-off with Mbemba scoring a penalty in the shoot-out.
Strengths
Although his long-term future is at centre-back, Mbemba is also capable of playing of right-back – where his marauding performance against Galatasaray came from – or as a defensive midfielder. During the African Cup of Nations he played alongside the skipper and former West Brom player Yussouf Mulumbu in the midfield anchor roles. Mbemba’s versatility comes from his varied attributes. He has a strong physical presence and is excellent in the tackle; two crucial attributes for a centre-back. Mbemba is also quick and accelerates rapidly as well as having a decent pair of feet on him. He has a decent eye for goal having scored 6 times in his 66 appearances (although this doesn’t seem like much it’s a better strike rate than Riviere, and in the same period of time Coloccini, Williamson, Taylor and Dummett managed a grand 5 in the league between them).
Weaknesses
If there is a weakness in his game, it is that he can be liable to lose concentration and therefore lose his positioning or his man. As a youngster this is expected and something that can be worked on but alongside Coloccini, Williamson or Taylor may continue Newcastle’s defensive woes. As a similar style of player to Coloccini, it may be that the two will struggle to play together. If Mbemba is to be the future for Newcastle, he must not be the only defender who joins during this window.
There is also a great deal of confusion over his real age and a CNN report in 2013 labelled him ‘the player with four birthdays’. Ages range between having been born in 1988 (making him 26) and his now ‘official’ birthday in 1994 (he’ll be 21 on 8 August) and it is believed that this may have been a sticking point in negotiations but Newcastle seem to be satisfied that he is in fact 20 and are prepared to go ahead with the deal. There is a great deal of difference between a player aged 26 and one aged 20 and, depending on his true age, if it is the former there may be a limit to his potential for development – that being said, it never did Nwankwo Kanu, Oba Martins nor Yakubu any harm.
Conclusion
Chancel Mbemba looks to be the real deal. Having been linked with Athletico Madrid and Porto, his signing for Newcastle would be a real signal of intent. Central defence is perhaps the most important area in which Newcastle needed to strengthen during this window and getting Mbemba across the line would be a leap in the right direction. If he can settle in on Tyneside, his signing could do more to improve Newcastle than either Wijnaldum or Anderlecht teammate Mitrovic. All we can hope is that he doesn’t follow in the footsteps of the last ‘very promising’ European defender whose surname began Mb…
