Arsene Wenger Agrees £8m Move for Defender, Deal to be Sealed This Week

Arsenal and Serie A side AS Roma are in advanced negotiations regarding a move for the Gunners defender Mathieu Debuchy.

The Frenchman has fallen behind Hector Bellerin in the pecking order at Emirates Stadium and had requested for a transfer move in order to get regular game time ahead of the Euros in summer.

The Mirror reports that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has reluctantly agreed to French international’s demands, and the player is set to have talks with Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini.

The transfer will be a loan move with an option of a permanent move for £8m in the summer. The Gunners signed the right-back for £10m from Newcastle in the summer of 2014, but he suffered two serious injuries in his first year with the club. In his absence, Bellerin emerged as club’s first choice right-back.

Debuchy was also linked with a move to West Brom, but the Baggies manager Tony Pulis rejected the rumours: “I’ve not said a word to Arsenal, and Arsenal have not said a word to me, so that’s a definite no.”

Arsene Wenger himself refused to rule out selling his compatriot last week. He said: “It’s not impossible. I’m happy if he stays. We’ll see.”

Wenger has been reluctant to Debuchy leave as he has no cover for the right-back position in case Bellerin gets injured. But Debuchy has been adamant on a move away from the club as he fears that his lack of playing time will cost him a place in the France national team for the Euro Cup.
“At the moment, I need game time,” he told French radio station RMC, back in December. “The past two games, I haven’t been included in the squad. Everything is clear. I need game time, and that’s why I’ll have to discuss it with the coach soon. We’ll see what offers there are between now and [January] – if there are any.”