Mathieu Debuchy to seek January transfer if he remains frozen out
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Mathieu Debuchy to seek January transfer if he remains frozen out

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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EXCLUSIVE | By Editor Wayne Veysey

Mathieu Debuchy will ask for a transfer during the January window if he remains sidelined by Arsenal,

Football Insider 

sources understand. The France international has started only three matches this season after losing his right-back position to youngster Hector Bellerin during his injury-ravaged debut campaign at Emirates Stadium. Debuchy has spoken with manager Arsene Wenger about his predicament after losing his place in the France team ahead of Euro 2016, which takes place in his home country next summer. Sources have told

Football Insider 

the 30-year-old will look to leave Emirates Stadium in the winter if he does not regain his place. Debuchy signed for Arsenal from Newcastle for an initial £8million in the summer of 2014 but missed large chunks of last season with shoulder and ankle injuries. He has started only 17 matches in all competitions for the Gunners and has watched from the sidelines as Bellerin, 20, has showed great promise since being fast-tracked into the first team at the end of last year.

Bellerin was subsequently handed a five-year contract during the summer

and has cemented his first-team place with a string of impressive displays in the new season. It remains to be seen whether Wenger would grant Debuchy a departure, even on loan, in January. Although the Arsenal manager tends not to rotate his defenders and has Calum Chambers and on-loan Carl Jenkinson as alternatives for the position, he values the Frenchman's experience and will be hopeful that he can regain the form that made him France's first-choice right-back at the 2014 World Cup.

Numero uno: Hector Bellerin has forced Mathieu Debuchy down the pecking order
Numero uno: Hector Bellerin has forced Mathieu Debuchy down the pecking order

Debuchy told L’Equipe in September that he thought about leaving during the summer after Bellerin was selected ahead of him in the Community Shield but eventually decided to stay and fight for his place. At that time, Debuchy was in the France squad for the friendlies against Portugal and Serbia. Debuchy said: “In the long-term, if this situation continues it could become tricky. He [Wenger] knows I’m worried though because there’s an important deadline at the end of the season. It’s a must to hold down a first team place. It’s clear. To be effective on the field you need game time.”

Arsenal
Hector Bellerin
Mathieu Debuchy
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