Mathieu Debuchy Transfer to Newcastle United Looking Increasingly Likely

Newcastle United edged closer to signing target Mathieu Debuchy when Lille won the race for junior French right-back Djibril Sidibe.

Debuchy now looks almost certain to depart after also not showing up to training yesterday.

It has been well recorded that the right-back, also used as a winger during Euro 2012, wants to leave, but Lille have refused to release him without an immediate replacement. It is possible they have found that replacement in Sidibe.

For those of us who have been living under a rock for the past month, Debuchy has been one of United's top targets during this transfer window.

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies have already agreed to a fee of about £7million for the player. Whether that was accurate remains to be seen.

This is not the first time Debuchy, close friends with Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, has made his intentions clear.

He has already said any bid to pry him from Grand Stade Lille Métropole should be cheap and denied any talk of signing a contract.

The likely move is also good news for newly-promoted Reading, who have already expressed an interest in Danny Simpson.

United may be well advised to hang onto him, however, with a tougher schedule to look forward to next season.

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