OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez will know that he has to sell up before he gets busy in the transfer market, which is why a loan exit of Chancel Mbemba is setting the club up for failure.
The Magpies, ran by Sports Direct supremo Mike Ashley, do not have the same sort of spending power that they used to, and have not looked like breaking the bank with the British businessman at the helm.
Managers have often had to deal with a shoestring budget at St James’ Park and the same applies to Benitez – despite having guided the north east side to a surprise top-ten finish in the Premier League last season.
Clearing out some deadwood, such as Henri Saivet and Jack Colback, from the team will provide some added funding as well as clearing up the wage bill, and fans should expect to see some exits before any new arrivals come through the door.
Mbemba would also find himself on that list, the 23-year-old having fallen firmly out of favour with just nine Premier League appearances last season, and Turkish outlet Fotomac claim that Trabzanspor are looking to capitalise with a loan offer.
However, with Benitez seemingly having lost any faith in Mbemba being a reliable member of the first team, a temporary departure offers nothing, and there must be some sort of transfer fee handed over to Newcastle.
The money his sale will generate is crucial to the Magpies making a success of this transfer window, and considering he can be expected to go for a fee in and around the £8million mark, could be a significant boost going forward.
A loan move only cuts the amount of spending Benitez can carry out, and would just set up the club for failure.