Gunners boss Arsene Wenger

Published: 4 July, 2014

ARSENAL are reportedly on the verge of completing a £12million deal for Newcastle United defender Mathieu Debuchy. 

The 28-year-old right back is said to have climbed to the top of Arsene Wenger’s summer wish list after Bacary Sagna turned down the offer of a new contract in order to join champions Manchester City. 

Debuchy, who has made no secret of the fact that he wants to play Champions League football, is currently in Brazil with his France team-mates preparing for Friday’s quarter-final showdown against Germany. The player is expected to finalise personal terms as soon as he arrives back in the UK – although there are some suggestions that a deal has already been completed but it won’t be announced until after the World Cup. 

If a deal is struck then the next question is whether or not the transfer will be funded by the departure of Thomas Vermaelen? 

The Arsenal captain has already rubbished reports once regarding a possible move to Manchester United, but with gossip columns claiming United having upped their initial offer of £6million to £11million, it seems the Belgian centre-back could be a lot closer to the Emirates’ exit then he’s letting on.