Ranking Newcastle's Transfer Dealings 2014-15 - Outgoings

16. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - Six-Month Loan And Then Sold Permanently For £6 Million (To Roma)

Season Rating: 8 Success Of Sale Rating: 1 Newcastle allowed Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to depart on loan for the season to Roma - a deal which soon turned into a permanent £6 million transfer - despite the fact they had just three out-and-out centre-backs in the squad. Paul Dummett and Daryl Janmaat (who had never even played at centre-back before) were then called upon to fill in later on the in the season once the perennially-injured Steven Taylor found himself on the sidelines, and then both Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini managed to get themselves suspended at different times. Yanga-Mbiwa struggled during his time on Tyneside, no doubt, but he was often played out of position - and he did captain Montpellier to the Ligue 1 title, so he does have some class. While Newcastle were struggling to send out an entire back four, Yanga-Mbiwa was playing well in the Champions League with Roma and helping them to claim second spot in Serie A. The Magpies lost £2.5 million on Yanga-Mbiwa, and they struggled for numbers in defence last season. An absolute disaster of a sale.