Debuchy edges closer to Lille exit

Will Debuchy be teaming up with his mate again? The long running saga that has become the Mathieu Debuchy transfer fiasco looks like it may finally be coming to an end.

Last week Debuchy spoke to the press and revealed that he was less than impressed with not being allowed to leave Lille after 20 years of faultless service.

This led to coach Rudi Garcia finally admitting defeat in his bid to keep Debuchy at the club although he remained adamant that the France international wouldn't be going anywhere until a suitable replacement had been found, again much to the annoyance of Debuchy as he felt the club were deliberately dragging their heels over finding a new right-back.

However it seems as thought things have changed on that front and Lille have now signed 20-year-old Djibril Sidibe from Troyes as a replacement for the now certain to be departing Debuchy. To give another indication of things progressing with Debuchy, he also failed to turn up for his first day of pre-season training after being given an extended break after Euro 2012.

I'm actually pretty confident of this transfer happening. From his best mate Yohan Cabaye telling him to come and join him at Newcastle, to Debuchy even saying that joining us was one of his priorities and that Lille shouldn't be looking for big money for him, and even Alan Pardew saying ages ago that we were looking to sign one of Cabaye's closest friends, it just all seems to be adding up.

Of course a fee is yet to be agreed between the two clubs, that we know of, and I'm not one to knickertwist or bemoan our offers and describe them as "lowballing" like some do, but I firmly believe that things are further on than is being made out with this deal.

What do you think?