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Arsenal in £2.4million transfer limbo following Aston Villa U-turn
By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes
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Mathieu Debuchy’s proposed loan move to Aston Villa has hit a snag after the Midlands club made a U-turn on the loan fee, Football Insider sources understand.
The Arsenal right-back has indicated he is ready to choose Villa over rival suitors Sunderland and Bayer Leverkusen in the final hours of the January window.
Arsenal appeared to have clinched the terms of a loan deal earlier this month with Villa, who agreed to pay a £1.2million fee to land the Frenchman until the end of the season as well as fund his wages, which would be worth a further £1.2million over the duration of the temporary transfer.
However, Villa’s perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table has prompted a change of thinking among the club hierarchy.
A source close to the situation has told Football Insider that they are reluctant to commit to such a substantial loan fee.
Debuchy is currently in limbo as he waits to link up with countryman Remi Garde at Villa Park, although there is hope among all parties that the situation can be resolved and the transfer can go through before the 11pm deadline on Monday night.
Wenger confirmed on Friday that the Londoners will let Debuchy go out on loan for the rest of the season, even though Carl Jenkinson’s second season-long loan at West Ham abruptly ended on Tuesday when it was revealed that he has torn his cruciate ligament and will not play again in 2015/16.
Injury blow: Jenkinson is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury
Nevertheless, Debuchy has been given the green light to leave, with Calum Chambers and Mathieu Flamini to provide back-up to Bellerin.
Football Insider revealed at the end of December that Villa had opened preliminary talks with the Gunners about signing Debuchy until the end of the season.
Debuchy recognises he needs regular first-team action to guarantee himself a place in Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2016 squad.
In other Arsenal transfer news, the Gunners have completed a move for Nigerian sensation Kelechi Nwakali, who is set to be joined at the club by Samuel Chukwueze.
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