A Case For Overpaying For Debuchy

I don't know if Mathieu Debuchy should be Newcastle United's top transfer target this summer.

But based on everything that's been written since May, Alan Pardew and Graham Carr seem to think so. And yet Newcastle finds itself in a stalemate with Lille, having had its latest offer of €6 million plus add-ons turned down last week.

Lille president Michel Seydoux has been talking tough, saying Debuchy will stay at the club. In reality, Newcastle can still in all likelihood land its man if it's willing to pay a few more million euros.

Of course, United has become renowned for its reluctance to overpay. Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias view players as commodities with defined values. As a broad philosophy, it's sensible. And it's fueled Newcastle's quicker-than-expected turnaround.

But United finds itself in a drastically different situation this summer compared to last. As Pardew himself said last week, the club doesn't need "ground-breaking changes" this time around. It's about adding the right players - the difference makers - who can push Newcastle to the next level.

So if Debuchy is one of players - and all indications are that Newcastle view him as such - then perhaps it's sensible in this case to go above and beyond to land him.

Comments

[Porciestreet]

Michael, Stop mucking about and get your hand down. After all, the difference you are being asked to come up with is about the same as a good night at the Casino is it not. Come on lad, don't be shy. HWTL.

[Bob]

I've come to believe that with Ashley it's not about the money as much as the principle. He is about value and bargains even if the non-bargain price is affordable.

[geordiepat]

If this were the last deal to ever be made by Ashley then yes, there is a case to made for digging deeper for Debuchy, but NUFC seem unwilling to tarnish their longterm reputation as hardballers around the negotiating table.

Lots of smoke and mirrors and I think the top brass like it that way. They seem keen on Debuchy but then they also did on Maiga, Erdinc, etc. - hard to know if they are seriously interested in him or just creating a smokescreen with phantom bids to hoodwink the press - and end up releasing the clause of a younger, cheaper player with a bigger sell-on value.

[sidekick]

Debuchy-- a hopeless full back but a decent right sided midfielder,

Do we need him ? No.

[MnToonArmy9]

If...and I don't know one way or another...but if Debs is really a guy that will put us over the top and make us legit top-4 challengers (assuming no other issues), then "overpaying" makes sense. After all, what's the difference, really between a $6M player and a $8M player?

Just win, baby!

[Rob]

I agree that Debuchy should not be our main RB target. I want Santon at RB, where he has said he is most comfortable, and get a left footed LB to round out the back 4. Don't forget another CB too since Saylor has a propensity to get injured.

[Tom]

Sidekick: I think you're being hugely harsh on Debuchy. I have questions about how he'd fare defending in the Premier League, but hopeless is just way over the top.

I too was hoping NUFC would go after an out-and-out LB and move Santon to RB. But NUFC has been big on getting players who are the right fit for the club with the right talent at the right price and they maybe just haven't been able to find a LB who ticks all those boxes.

[sidekick]

Tom; I may have been a bit harsh on Debuchy. I've only seen him play in six games so I should not pass judgement. Unfortunately, in those six games --- he was hopeless!

Rob; Santon is far better at LB than RB. Simpson is a good defensive RB but Jonas is the best RB at the club.

[Rob]

We've never even seen Jonas at RB and Simpson is average premier league quality at RB defensively and offers nothing going forward.

[sidekick]

Jonas has played a few games at RB for Newcastle and Pardew has played him in that position in recent pre season matches.
He has played over 20 games for Argentina , most of them at RB.

[Jaeger]

i think santon should stay at LB because he loves to cut in around the edge of the box and take a shot there...which he's good at doing. just needs to practice his left foot crosses more. a better right back than simpson would be our first need and depth at CM and strikers is next.

[robindmcdougall]

@ geordiepat - Agree and hope that's the take ... I'm coming around full-circle on the transfer policies of the current Board. Success breeds that ... and they've shown their caginess pays off.

Having said that... squad is still thin assuming we're aiming for a legitimate European campaign. If we're putting on Europa to save $$ fine, but let's make sure we punt properly and don't over stretch what we've got.