Reports: Arsenal close to £8 million deal for Newcastle’s Mathieu Debuchy

Mathieu Debuchy: Reportedly close to a move to North London

Arsenal are increasingly confident of signing Newcastle defender Mathieu Debuchy, and the deal could be completed by the end of the week, according to Goal.

Bacary Sagna rejected the chance to continue his stay at the Emirates in favour of joining Manchester City on a free transfer, leaving the club in search of a replacement right-back this summer.

Arsenal are believed to have agreed an £8 million fee with Newcastle for the 28-year-old, and Debuchy revealed he was in talks with the Gunners after France’s elimination from the World Cup last week.

Negotiations are reported to be going well, and unless there is an unexpected hitch, the club believe the France international will be an Arsenal player shortly.

Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier was initially thought to be Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s primary target to replace Sagna, but he has gone for the experience of Debuchy instead.

Debuchy joined Newcastle from Lille in January last year, and he was Didier Deschamps first-choice right-back for France at the World Cup, ahead of Sagna.

Arsenal could spend £40 million on new signings in the near future, as they are also thought to be closing in on the signing for much-admired Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, after agreeing a £32 million fee for the Chile international.