£60,000-per-week Star Set for a Shock Transfer in the Last Hour of Deadline Day

Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy could still leave the north London club on the final day on the January transfer window, but the France international won’t be going anywhere on a permanent move.

Speaking during a pre-match conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “Debuchy is still a possibility but, at the moment, it doesn’t look like it. It’s impossible to conclude a permanent move now.”

Debuchy remains optimistic he will be able to finalize a loan move to Premier League bottom club Aston Villa before the transfer deadline passes. However, latest shock reports consider Manchester United as favorites to land defenders’ services.

The 30-year-old full-back has started just a handful of matches because of the emergence of Hector Bellerin, who has risen over him [Debuchy] in the pecking order, and Debuchy is currently fighting for his place in France’s Euro 2016 squad, clarifying why he’s keen to make a move from Arsenal.

According to our sources, Aston Villa have been told the full-back will cost £1 million loan fee and Villa boss Remi Garde is likely to agree to the terms as he struggles to save his side from relegation. Villa will also be expected to pay Debuchy’s £60,000-per-week salary in full. Sunderland are reportedly keen on completing a loan move for Debuchy too.

Time is indeed running out, however, and a solution is becoming less likely by the minute. While there’s little doubt there will be a host of clubs interested in the Frenchman’s services, it could be impossible to make a deal on the final day of the transfer window, as most clubs have already finalized their squads for the second half of the season.