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Liverpool reportedly make enquiry for player Benitez applauded, after selling him in 2018
Liverpool have reportedly made an enquiry to sign FC Porto defender Chancel Mbemba after his sparkling Champions League display against Juventus on Tuesday night – a player that was subject to rare Rafa Benitez praise in 2018.
Mbemba, 26, was sold by Rafa Benitez during the latter’s time at Newcastle in the summer of 2018 – with the DR Congo international struggling to get regular game time on Tyneside. Porto snapped him up, and he has since starred in Portugal.
He has played 81 times and that figure is likely to come close to a century by the end of the season, as Porto continue to fight on multiple fronts. On Tuesday night, he partnered 38-year-old Pepe and both Porto defenders were lauded for their display.
Despite Juve boasting Cristiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and more – Porto held out after extra-time despite going down to 10 men. Liverpool have now made an enquiry after that result, with Mbemba rated at £13million.
Having sold the former Anderlecht defender to Porto just under three years ago, ex-Liverpool manager Benitez – who is renowned for rarely praising any of his players – stated that Mbemba has “quality”, but failed to settle on Tyneside.
“We are talking about a player where we know he has quality if we analyse him technically,” Benitez said, . “You have to settle down in the team, the city and the country. There is an opportunityto go to an important club and do well.”
TBR’s view – Mbemba has all the attributes Liverpool need at centre-back
On Tuesday, all of those qualities were on show. While Pepe stole the headlines given the calibre of the player and his age, Mbemba was rock solid. He has a bit of everything and is just what Liverpool look for at the back.
Bags of pace, strength, aerial ability and the kind of quality on the ball that makes him good enough to play at full-back – Benitez played him at left-back at times – suggests that he is ideal for Liverpool, especially as he has the pace to play in a high line.
If available for £13million, then Liverpool must snap him up before other clubs get involved.
