According to reports from the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy will consider his future at the club in the upcoming January transfer window after losing his national squad place ahead of the 2016 Euro Championship.
The Frenchman who was signed for £12m from Newcastle United last summer has lost his starting eleven spot in Arsene Wenger’s side thanks to a combination of his injuries and Hector Bellerin’s growing stature at the club. The 30 year old had to undergo an ankle and a shoulder surgery while Bellerin’s fine form means he is now untouchable in the Gunners’ team sheet.
Debuchy who lacks match fitness has started just 3 games this season also missed out Arsenal’s home defeat to Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday. It was interesting to see how the right back was not considered for the game despite Arsene Wenger preferring to rotate his players keeping in mind Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash against Manchester United.
The report from Telegraph also states that Debuchy earlier in an interview with L’Equipe last month stated that he thought about leaving during the summer. The reason being Bellerin was selected ahead of him in the Community Shield clash against Chelsea.
Debuchy though vowed to fight for his place and stayed put at the Emirates. At that time though, he was a part of the France squad for the international friendlies against Portugal and Serbia. However now that national team coach Didier Deschamps has called Manchester City’s Bacary Sagna and Lyon’s Christophe Jallet, Debuchy is right to think about his future.
The player could thus ask Wenger to let him leave in the January transfer window in search of more game time elsewhere so that he can play for his national side at home in the upcoming Euros 2016. It is though highly unlikely that Wenger will let Debuchy have his way. An injury to Bellerin could spell disaster and given that Debuchy can also play as a centre back, Wenger could convince him to stay promising him to slot in when the situation demands.
As of now, Debuchy has a contract with Arsenal till 2018 and he must concentrate to get his form back in order to challenge Bellerin for a starting eleven spot in the right back role.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
