What Timing: Lille Paper Reports Debuchy Agreement

With Christmas having snowed 11 goals onto a seemingly lost Newcastle United defense, the Lille newspaper La Voix du Nord (Voice of the North) is reporting today that Newcastle and Lille have agreed in principle on a €6 million (£4.9 million) transfer to England for Lille right back and French international Mathieu Debuchy. While the article says the deal isn't finished - incentives are still being worked out - this detailed local report takes the Debuchy deal out of a lengthy rumor stage and onto the doorstep of reality.

It's been a somewhat disappointing year for Debuchy, with the player "not recovering his smile or his best form" since the failed transfer of last summer, according to the report. The article says Debuchy intended to finish the season at Lille despite his removal from the five-player "Council of Elders" that helps manager Rudi Garcia run the club, plus the recent falling out between club management and goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, which resulted in the French international backstop signing a six-month contract with Corsican club Bastia just before Christmas. "But the wing back saw the situation accelerate suddenly: Newcastle needs reinforcements, having yielded 11 goals in two matches against Manchester United and Arsenal, and Lille needs cash," the paper reports.

I've seen Lille and Debuchy several times this season, being one of the lucky few American soccer fans whose satellite pulls in the new beIN Sport USA network run by Al Jazeera that has snagged US television rights to Ligue 1 matches. From what I've been able to sample, Debuchy isn't quite the player I'd pick to cure the defensive ills Newcastle has suffered recently - he seems prone to exactly the sort of who-just-ran-past-me? lapse that's become an epidemic across the Toon back line. Debuchy's skills on the ball are what set him apart from most backs, and the Newcastle defense is already bookended by one such player in Davide Santon.

But given the utter collapse at the back almost any new blood is likely to be an upgrade, and the change of scenery could help Debuchy recover his form, especially on a club as French-flavored as Newcastle. With the resilience Newcastle's attack showed despite the poor results at Man U and Arsenal, and compatriots Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye due back before long, the additional adrenaline-injection of Debuchy at the back could make it a wild second-half ride for the Mags and their fans. 

Comments

[Tom]

He might be able to cross, but can he shout and point as well as Simpson?

[Michael]

Great to see him coming in. Hasn't looked as good this season as he's wanted to leave and join Newcastle. Hopefully, him getting his wish will help him rediscover his form!

[JeffC]

Have to agree with Toms' comment. Frustrating as 3 goals typically will get you a win. Ugh!

[rob]

Tom gets comment of the month so far. Prize? Nothing