Sam Allardyce is hoping to persuade Mathieu Debuchy to snub a proposed move from Arsenal to Aston Villa and join Sunderland instead.
The deal would be a loan until the summer and is being sold as offering the former Newcastle United right back an opportunity of forcing his way back into the France squad for Euro 2016.
Things have not worked out for Debuchy since his £12m transfer from St James Park to Arsenal 18 months ago. The 30-year-old lost his place after a spell spent injured on the sidelines and he now accepts he has little chance of displacing Héctor Bellerín.
Accordingly Sunderland have attempted to hijack Rémi Garde’s plan to move for his compatriot by holding talks with Arsenal over a proposed loan fee for Debuchy, who last appeared in Arsène Wenger’s first team in November.
“Whatever happens, even if it is to return [to Arsenal] this summer and then start again, I have to go this winter. I cannot stay at Arsenal,” Debuchy said earlier this month. “As the weeks go by, we get closer to the Euros. I have to play to try to return as soon as March for the Netherlands and Russia friendlies. I would have preferred to leave Arsenal last summer but the coach told me that I would have my chance. Ultimately, it was not the case.”
It all represents quite a come down for a defender who made it clear he regarded Newcastle as a mere stepping stone to bigger and better things.
Allardyce already has three right backs in Billy Jones, Adam Matthew and DeAndre Yedlin but he is looking into the possibility of terminating Yedlin’s loan from Tottenham while Matthews is expected to join a Championship club before next week’s transfer deadline.
