Everton are chasing Chancel Mbemba’s signature as he winds down his contract with FC Porto and will be available on a free transfer.
According to A Bola (h/t Sport Witness), Chancel Mbemba is a target for Everton as the Premier League side ponders making a formal offer. The defender will soon be without a club as he runs down his FC Porto contract, thus making himself available as a high-quality free agent.
A player running down his contract is becoming increasingly common as entering the market as a free agent tends to attract multiple lucrative offers. The chances of a footballer joining his preferred club without the involvement of a transfer fee is a convenient option nowadays.
Football clubs have faced plenty of financial trouble in the aftermath of the pandemic, and they are always on alert if a cost-effective deal comes to the fore. There is a big pool of free agents in this window, and many teams are surely planning on taking advantage of their situation.
Chancel Mbemba will soon enter this pool as the Porto defender runs down his deal at the club. The Portuguese club have given up on the idea of retaining the DR Congo defender and, the search for a viable replacement has already begun, with Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet considered as a suitable target.
Meanwhile, Mbemba continues to attract interest from clubs across the continent. Lyon, AC Milan, Real Betis and Marseille are among the teams keen on the 27-year-old Congo star, but his preference is to return to England. He has previously played with Newcastle United, making 59 appearances for the Magpies.
Everton is the English club keen on the defender, as they, like many other sides, are exploring cost-effective, quality options in the market. The Toffees are not flush with cash and have trouble buying players due to financial restrictions.
Last season they signed players on the cheap and spent paltry sums to strengthen their squad. To get things into perspective, Demarai Gray was their most expensive summer purchase and cost them under £2 million. They did splash a bit in the January window but are likely to be looking at bargain deals in the summer yet again.
Mbemba represents such an opportunity, and Everton have been targeting similar defenders as their pursuit of James Tarkowski suggests. The Burnley man is also a free agent and is poised to join the Toffees imminently.
But given their defensive woes last season, another solid centre-back would be a welcome signing for Frank Lampard’s side. And Mbemba’s previous experience in the Premier League is a plus point for Everton. Whether they make a formal offer remains to be seen, but the player’s preference to return to England makes matters easier for the Toffees.