Benitez outcast reveals Newcastle price tag in bold verdict on transfer future
Newcastle United goalkeeper Matz Sels has said that it will be “difficult” for him to return to the club after his loan spell at Anderlecht and that the Magpies will be looking to sell him for close to the fee they bought him for.
The Belgian international shot stopper arrived on Tyneside in a reported £5m deal from Genk in the summer of 2016, battling it out with Karl Darlow for a place in the starting XI.
However a shaky beginning to his career saw him lose his first team place to the former Nottingham Forest man, and after falling behind the returning Rob Elliot in the pecking order, he was shipped out on a season long loan to Anderlecht in June 2017, outcast from the first team squad.
Despite it being a temporary move, Sels says that he cannot see himself returning to St James’ Park in a bold verdict on his future, and says that the Magpies will hope to secure a price not far off what they themselves spent on him.
He told Het Nieuwsblad: “A return to Newcastle United will be difficult.
“Newcastle have paid a lot of money and they want to recoup a part.
“I am, in any case, open to everything. Of course I also want a conversation with Anderlecht and who knows, I’ll stay here longer. I’m open for a conversation.”
Sels managed to make just 14 appearances for Newcastle, while he has turned out 24 times for Anderlecht this season.
Football Insider verdict
With the arrival of Martin Dubravka at St James’ Park in January, Sels’ future, or lack of, at the club seemed a certainty. He did not inspire any confidence between the sticks and his time with the Magpies will go down as a firm failure. Offloading him in the summer should not prove to be too big a challenge for Newcastle, although they will be reluctant to make a loss off his sale. Is £5million a reasonable fee to demand? He has been a regular for Anderlecht, including in the Champions League this season, so there should be a handful of clubs interested, and in today’s market, the Magpies should be able to get close to what they want.
In other Newcastle United transfer news, a top flight giant has readied an £18million bid for one of the club’s top stars.