Boss says Mbulu going in the right direction to be considered for a new deal in January.
Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told the club’s official website that he would consider offering Christian Mbulu new terms in January if the defender continues to perform at a high standard. In the wake of Olly Lancashire’s Achilles injury, the centre-half has arrived to offer cover and competition in the back four and he has started the last two games against Everton Under-21s and Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
The former Millwall man will now be hoping that he has done enough to retain his place for this weekend’s League Two fixture at Northampton.
Artell admits that he cannot be overly concerned that the 23-year-old is only on a short-term deal at the moment and that if competition for his signature does materialise in the New Year then we will cross that bridge once we come to it.
The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “Christian has come here and hit the ground running and I am not surprised by it at all.
“If other people are looking at him then I cannot control that. I would think that scouts are watching a number of players anyway. That is what we are about. That is what we are.
“If I think it is right for the Football Club then I would strive to do everything I can to keep Christian here. If someone comes in and offers him more money then I cannot do anything about that. We won’t be defeatist about it and Christian knows how much we value him and want him to become an even better player here with us.
“We have a culture here to produce players. He is still relatively young and learning the game and if that was to continue here after January then great. We’ll have to see what happens.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Swindon, Peterborough, West Brom or Manchester United there are a lot of clubs who can offer more than us and that is why we have to do things a bit differently here and invest our time to improve our players. It’s in the DNA of the club and we have been open and honest with Christian all the way through. He has been terrific with us too.”