Manchester United Transfer News: Mathieu Debuchy Bid, Nick Powell Exit Rumours

Manchester United's late bid to sign Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy during the last hours of the January transfer window was reportedly blocked by Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

Debuchy would have helped ease United's current injury crisis at both full-back positions, but Wenger wouldn't sanction the move, apparently viewing the Red Devils as a potential title rival in the Premier League.

That's according to RMC Sport's Mohamed Bouhafsi (h/t Metro's Will Giles). The report used the phrase "personally scuppered" to describe Wenger's role in the failed deal.

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Meanwhile, Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror dubbed Debuchy "extremely keen" on a move to Old Trafford. Lewis cited Debuchy's desire for regular football in order to boost his chances of appearing for France at this summer's Euro 2016 tournament.

He also claims United chief Louis van Gaal was "fearing a defensive crisis" during the final minutes of the winter transfer window. It's an understandable concern while Luke Shaw is on the shelf. Even auxiliary full-backs, including natural winger Ashley Young, are injured.

At least Italian defender Matteo Darmian is fit enough to be back in United's squad, according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

Debuchy would have been a good fit given the problems in Van Gaal's squad, despite his struggles since signing for Arsenal in 2014. The former Newcastle United man has endured injuries of his own, while also losing his starting berth to jet-heeled Spanish youngster Hector Bellerin.

But instead of remaining in England's top flight, 30-year-old Debuchy returned to Ligue 1, joining Bordeaux on loan, per Arsenal's official site. He described to French media how the deal took a mere 30 minutes to be concluded, according to Tony Hughes of FootballInsider247.com: "I went to see the coach (Wenger) one last time, I showed him Bordeaux’s offer and after that it was all taken care of in half an hour."

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Van Gaal will now have to get increasingly creative, as well as even more willing to trust young players, in order to cope with the injuries at the back.

Nick Powell Expected to Leave in the Summer

United think Nick Powell will exit the club this summer after his latest loan move comes to a close, per Wayne Veysey of FootballInsider247.com: "However, Powell’s United contract expires in the summer and a United source has told Football Insider there has been no indication he will be handed an extension."

Powell has failed to make the grade since making the step up from Crewe Alexandra in 2012. Veysey reveals how the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has "made only nine first-team appearances."

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Now he's set to ply his trade as a loanee at Championship side Hull City, according to BBC Sport. He had been linked with Nottingham Forest, with a report in the Sun (h/t the Nottingham Post) suggesting the club's pursuit had "gone on for five years."

It would make sense for United to cut ties with Powell once the season ends. He was always a gamble, coming from League Two to England's top flight. But it's proved too big of a jump for the mercurial playmaker.

Landing Debuchy wouldn't have grabbed many headlines, but it would have been a useful piece of business from Van Gaal. Now he's left to find new ways of filling the gaps.