#2 Chancel Mbemba - Newcastle United
Following Newcastle’s desolate 2014/15 Premier League campaign, in which they conceded more goals (63) than the season they were relegated in 2009 (59), there was a burning desire for the Magpies to invest in their back-line ahead of this term. The solution? A then 20-year-old Congolese centre-back plying his trade in the Belgian top flight.
His transfer brought an air of skepticism with it at the time and his performances since have done little to win over the doubters. With WhoScored giving Chancel Mbemba an average rating of less than 7 so far this season, coupled with the fact Newcastle have the league’s joint-worst defence at present, it is growing more evident that the former-Anderlecht man is not ready to marshal a Premier League back-line.
The figures show he has made only 2.8 tackles on average per game, leading to the inescapable conclusion that, despite having improved to some extent of late, this deal was not a good fit and McClaren needs an experienced head at the heart of defence instead.