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☆ Barclays Premier League Season 2014-15 ☆
- Thread starter Groove Armada
- Start date
Aston Villa confirm Roy Keane appointment as Paul Lambert's assistant for new season
Jul 01, 2014 16:51
By Liam Prenderville
Former Manchester United captain insists he is delighted to be joining the Scot's staff and is looking forward to an "exciting challenge"
New role: Keane will continue in his position with the Republic of Ireland
Roy Keane has been confirmed as Aston Villa's new assistant manager.
The 42-year-old will continue in his role with the Republic of Ireland and joins Paul Lambert's staff at Villa Park after rejecting the chance to take over at Celtic.
He told the club's official website: "I am delighted to be joining Aston Villa and I look forward to what promises to be an exciting challenge.
"I am relishing the prospect of linking up with Paul and combining both roles to the full advantage of both Villa and Ireland."
Lambert added: "As a player, he was one of the most accomplished in the history of the Barclays Premier League and he's brought that experience gained over many years into his career in coaching and management. The players will love working with him."
Keane will step into the new role ahead of pre-season which begins next Monday July 7.
Ander Herrera deceived us by signing for Manchester United, claims Athletic Bilbao president
In his first press conference since Ander Herrera left, Josu Urrutia claims player gave no indication he wanted to depart for the Premier League
In the red: Ander Herrera's decision to join Manchester United upset Athletic Bilbao Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Telegraph Sport
2:32PM BST 03 Jul 2014
Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has claimed Manchester United signing Ander Herrera deceived the Basque club before sealing his move to the Premier League.
The 24-year-old midfielder's switch to Old Trafford was finalised last month in a £29 million deal, after the English club paid his buy-out clause - nine months after an initial proposed switch had fallen through on transfer-deadline day.
Athletic betrayed a sense of disquiet with Herrera the day the move was confirmed, releasing a statement declaring their "disappointment" at his decision to leave, adding: "This is not a pleasant moment for the club".
In his first press conference since Herrera left, Urrutia said he had no indication that the midfielder wanted to depart for the Premier League and, following the sales of Javi Martinez [to Bayern Munich, in 2012], Fernando Llorente [Juventus in 2013], and Herrera in the last two years, Urrutia stressed that the Basques did not aspire to be a selling club.
"For us, Ander Herrera was a player we expected to stay at the club," Urrutia said. "According to what he said, Ander was delighted to be here and his only aspiration was to stay here."
Moments before the press conference, Athletic announced that midfielder Iker Muniain had signed a two-year contract extension.
Urrutia expressed his delight that the academy product had renewed his commitment to the club, signing a new deal which also sees his buy-out clause raised from 37.5 million euros (£30 million) to 45 million euros (£35.9 million).
"We've reached an agreement with Iker, which is good news," he said.
Referring to the departures of Martinez, Llorente and Herrera, Urrutia underlined the importance of holding on to Muniain, as the club prepare for their pre-season campaign and their Champions League play-off tie in August.
"We have had three exceptional cases recently. If it became a trend, it would be dangerous," he said. "Our players' maximum aspiration has to be to stay at Athletic. We are looking forward to an exciting year, which starts on Monday."
Manchester City's £32 million bid for Porto's Eliaquim Mangala accepted - but Chelsea still in the hunt
Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala looks set to move to the Etihad after Manchester City's £32m bid for Frenchman was accepted by the Portuguese club on Thursday. Chelsea are now weighing up whether to match the offer
Best defence: Manchester City have nudged ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Porto's Eliaquim Mangala Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Luke Edwards
1:44PM BST 03 Jul 2014
Manchester City have reportedly had a £32 million bid for French defender Eliaquim Mangala accepted by Porto, but Chelsea could still hijack the deal as they weigh up whether to match their offer.
Mangala has been a priority target for City for several months as they are keen to strengthen the centre of their defence in order to offer a stiffer challenge in the Champions League next season.
City won the Premier League in May, but were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona and were perceived to have a weak link in the middle of their back four, with only Vincent Kompany consistently impressing in that position.
Mangala has also attracted interest from the like of Manchester United in the past, but their new manager Louis van Gaal is not convinced the 23 year-old has the right temperament for such a high profile move at this stage of his career.
Chelsea have also been tracking Mangala and sources close to the player have previously indicated he would prefer a move to west London and the chance to play for Jose Mourinho.
However, City have been the only club to firm up their interest and appear to have reached an agreement with Porto that will allow them to discuss personal terms with the player and his representatives.
That has put pressure on Chelsea to make a similar bid if they are going to prevent City from landing a crucial target before the start of the season.
It is not clear whether Chelsea have the necessary funds to keep pace with their domestic rivals given they have already spent £32m this summer to sign striker Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.
The arrival of Mangala could prompt former England international Joleon Lescott to seek a new club, with West Bromwich Albion interested in him.
City, though, may prefer to sell Matija Nastasic to Juventus as they need to keep the required number of England qualified players at the club to satisfy domestic and European competition quotas.
I will talk to Real Madrid & Barcelona if Chelsea don't want Cech, claims agent
Jul 3, 2014 10:43:00 AM
The goalkeeper's future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain and his agent insists the Spanish giants would be his first port of call if the 32-year-old is made available for transfer
By William Joyce
Real Madrid and Barcelona would jump at the chance to sign Petr Cech should he be rendered surplus to requirements at Chelsea, according to the player’s agent.
Goal reported earlier this month that Chelsea are prepared to listen to offers for their long-serving No.1, with Thibaut Courtois set to end his three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid and return to Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Cech’s representative Viktor Kolar says Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are among the elite European clubs to have already expressed an interest in Cech’s services but believes they would have to compete with the Spanish giants if he were to be made available for transfer.
“I would get in touch with Zubizaretta at Barcelona [if Petr is not wanted at Chelsea] and people at Real Madrid," he said. "These are clubs we would consider if Chelsea wanted to get rid of Petr.
“We would also consider Bayern but they have Neuer there. Then there are leagues Petr would not go to. Serie A for instance, because clubs in that league have problems.
“Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest and we have also communicated with Monaco.”
Cech, 32, signed for Chelsea a decade ago and has made 478 appearances for the club, winning a total of 11 major honours. Kolar insists Cech’s preference would be to remain at Chelsea and although he has been given no concrete indication that his future lies elsewhere he admitted only a handful of clubs would be able to afford his services.
“He has two years left on his Chelsea contract and has an interest to continue there. Mourinho did not tell him that he would not count on him anymore," Kolar said.
“Petr isn't 20 anymore. His family are satisfied living in London. His wife is leading zumba classes there and his children attend schools. Moreover, Petr is satisfied at Chelsea and there is interest in his services even after his active football career. They would want him to continue in some position at the club.
“We have not been giving away signals that Petr would be available. If that was the case, though, you have to realise that Petr is one of the world's top goalkeepers and has a certain salary.
“There are not many clubs who could afford to sign him. If he were to leave, we're discussing two or three clubs in the world. The situation has developed in a way, of course, but for now he is staying at Chelsea."
Manchester United Told To Meet £37m Release Clause To Sign Chelsea Target
by Mark Brus July 3rd, 2014
United told to pay up for midfielder. Manchester United have been told to pay up and meet the hefty £37m buyout clause for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, according to the Daily Express.
The talented youngster has attracted plenty of interest from big clubs in recent months, with United’s Premier League rivals Chelsea also believed to be among the leading contenders to sign him.
Sporting Lisbon are not ready to let their star player leave for cheap, however, and will expect interested parties to meet the asking price set in his contract, with a bid of £37m enough to activate his buy-out clause and allow him to negotiate with other sides.
It remains to be seen if United will be ready to cough up so much for a relatively inexperienced and unproven player, though Louis van Gaal is seemingly a fan of the Portuguese starlet, and is chasing further signings in midfield this summer.
United have already brought in Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao in a deal worth around £29m, but the Red Devils seem keen to sign at least one more player in that position after also being linked with the likes of Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Toni Kroos of Bayern Munich.
Three Ways Liverpool Could Spend £80m From Luis Suarez Sale
by Glen Harrington July 3rd, 2014
How should Liverpool best spend the £80m from the potential sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona…
Liverpool are currently in talks with Barcelona over a potentially record-breaking deal, that will see Luis Suarez move to the Nou Camp. If the move goes through, the biggest talking point will be regarding how the Reds are best to spend their £80 million windfall.
Tottenham proved last summer, when they used the money from the sale of Gareth Bale, that it is not always easy to replace your star man, no matter how many new signings you make. With that in mind, here are three potential routes Liverpool could take:
1) Demand Alexis Sanchez as part of the deal
By demanding Alexis Sanchez, who is valued at around £30m, as part of the deal, Liverpool will perhaps get as close as possible to signing a like-for-like replacement. A 25-year-old South American who likes to play just behind a main striker, Sanchez would be an exciting prospect for the Anfield faithful, and would lessen the blow of losing Suarez, especially with an additional £50m in the bank as well.
There is nothing to indicate the Chilean would not fit in well with the Reds, where he would play alongside the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona also appear to be keen on the move, as they look to finance their purchase of Suarez, but the major stumbling block is likely to be Sanchez’s apparent desire to join Arsenal. If Liverpool do make it clear that they will only accept a deal that includes Sanchez, it could open the door to Suarez staying at the club – with Barcelona then needing to make more sales to raise the cash needed for the Uruguayan.
2) Freshen Up the Leaky Defence
With the money gained from the sale of Suarez, Liverpool could easily re-work their back-line, and could target a new centre-back, left back and goalkeeper with cash to spare. The Reds defence was heavily criticised last season after they conceded 50 Premier League goals.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has been linked with Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren, Sevilla full-back Alberto Moreno, and World Cup goalkeepers Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) and Keylor Navas (Costa Rica). They would all be well within his price range.
3) Attack, Attack, Attack
Liverpool fans are likely to demand attacking reinforcements if Suarez does leave the club, and Sanchez succeed’s in forcing through a move to Arsenal. If both those moves come to fruition, Rodgers could instead turn his attention to the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Lazar Markovic and even Mario Balotelli.
However, it will be vital that Liverpool do not overburden themselves with attacking options, especially if they collate a host of big names who all expect to play every week. Brendan Rodgers will already have the challenge of fitting Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Lucas, Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert into his plans, while he also has the likes of Iago Aspas and Fabio Borini in his squad.
Saha: Manchester United made mistake in letting Pogba leave
By Tom Maston
Jul 3, 2014 10:21:00 PM
The ex-Red Devils forward believes Sir Alex Ferguson made an error in allowing the France international to leave for Juventus and admitted he reminds him of Patrick Vieira
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha feels the Old Trafford outfit made a mistake in allowing Paul Pogba to leave the club.
The midfielder was allowed to leave for Juventus in 2012 after just three senior appearances, and has gone onto forge an excellent reputation at both club and international level.
His performances at the World Cup for France have caught the attention of supporters and scouts alike, with Chelsea believed to be preparing a lucrative package to lure him from Turin to Stamford Bridge.
And Saha, who scored 28 Premier League goals in 52 starts for the Red Devils, believes Sir Alex Ferguson made a rare error in allowing the 21-year-old to depart the club.
"It's not often I will criticise Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson but it's clearly one of their biggest mistakes," he talkSport.
"He's clearly a talent. He's a confident player and he's always trying to improve. He's got a lot of aggression but he's got so much potential to improve."
Saha also claimed that Pogba reminded him of former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira in his playing style, with his ability to play in both defensive and attacking roles a key attribute.
"He's been very important for France and showed in the last game [a 2-0 win over Nigeria] he can score goals and he can dictate the midfield area.
"He was very strong in his desire to go forward and he is a great box-to-box player. He reminds me of Patrick Vieria but maybe with a bit more style."
Fellaini refuses to confirm Manchester United stay
By Chris Davie
Jul 4, 2014 10:55:00 AM
The midfielder says his future will be decided after the World Cup and insists he does not have to prove anything for Belgium after a tough season at Old Trafford
Marouane Fellaini has refused to confirm he will remain at Manchester United this summer.
The 26-year-old was signed for £27.5 million from Everton last September but back and wrist injuries restricted him to just 16 Premier League appearances last season.
Fellaini has been linked with a move away from United this summer following the arrival of new manager Louis van Gaal.
And when asked by Sky Sports News if he will be at Old Trafford next season, the midfielder replied: "We will see after the World Cup."
Fellaini has appeared in all four of Belgium’s World Cup fixtures and netted the equaliser in his nation’s opening 2-1 win over Algeria in the group stage.
When asked if he had proved a point with his displays for Belgium, Fellaini said: "I don't have to prove [anything] - I've been a professional footballer for eight years."
Luuk de Jong could join brother at Newcastle, according to agent
By Russell Greaves
Jul 4, 2014 10:49:00 AM
The Borussia Monchengladbach forward endured a torrid loan spell at St James' Park last season but could yet complete a permanent switch to play alongside his sibling
Luuk de Jong could return to Newcastle United to join brother Siem, according to the pair's agent.
Siem signed a six-year deal at St James' Park on Tuesday to boost Alan Pardew's attacking options, with Newcastle having lost on-loan top scorer Loic Remy.
His younger sibling Luuk spent the second half of the last campaign on loan at Newcastle but the forward struggled for form, his 12 appearances failing to yield a single goal.
However, Louis Laros, the brothers' agent, believes the duo could link up next term as Luuk returned to pre-season training with Borussia Monchengladbach.
"Luuk's very happy for Siem – he gave him good advice," Laros told The Shields Gazette. "The two brothers are not twins but they are very, very close.
"It could be an option for them to play together for Newcastle because the two boys are very complementary to each other.
"Luuk is a striker and Siem plays behind him so it could be the perfect match.
"There's nothing happening at the moment but you never know in the future. At the moment, Luuk is back in Germany, because Newcastle didn't take up the option to sign him.
"Newcastle are still looking for strikers, though, and maybe will come back later in the window for him.
"The door is never closed."
Siem de Jong was Pardew's third summer signing following the capture of striker Ayoze Perez from Tenerife and Jack Colback from Sunderland, and it's thought the North East outfit are weighing up a fourth summer move, with efforts stepped up to secure the capture Manchester City's Micah Richards.
Phil Neville in danger of being frozen out at Manchester United by incoming manager Louis van Gaal
Manchester United coach and former player Phil Neville will not figure in Louis van Gaal’s senior team and is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford
Sidelined: Phil Neville will not be among Louis van Gaal's first-team coaching staff at Manchester United Photo: JOHN PETERS
By Mark Ogden, Northern Football Correspondent
10:30PM BST 03 Jul 2014
Phil Neville is facing an uncertain future at Manchester United with his position as first-team coach likely to be diminished by Louis van Gaal .
United’s non-World Cup players are due to report back from their summer break today to undergo a series of physical tests prior to starting pre-season training early next week.
But after being handed a senior coaching role by former manager David Moyes 12 months ago, it is understood that Neville will not figure in Van Gaal’s backroom staff at first-team level.
United are keen for Neville to remain involved in the coaching set-up at Carrington, but the 37-year-old, who continues to refer to himself as the first-team coach on his Twitter page, will return to Old Trafford still waiting to discover his role under the new regime.
Van Gaal, who will take charge of United following the end of Holland’s involvement at the World Cup, has already finalised his senior coaching team.
Ryan Giggs has taken the position of assistant manager and will assist Van Gaal on the training ground. The Dutchman has also appointed Frans Hoek as goalkeeping coach to replace Chris Woods.
Marcel Bout, who has previously worked at Bayern Munich and several clubs in Holland, has been appointed as assistant coach by Van Gaal.
United have no plans to make further appointments to the coaching staff, but Neville is expected to be offered a position at some level at Carrington.
Former United and England midfielder Nicky Butt, who assisted Giggs during his four-game spell as caretaker manager at the end of last season, is returning to his role with the club’s youth and reserve teams.
Meanwhile, Moyes has missed out on a return to management with Galatasaray, despite holding talks with the Turkish club earlier this month.
Cesare Prandelli, who resigned as Italy coach last week following the country’s disappointing World Cup, has instead been appointed as manager of the Istanbul giants, replacing former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
Galatasaray had initially been keen to recruit either Jürgen Klinsmann or Joachim Löw, but the club confirmed that Prandelli would be unveiled next week.
“We will announce the official signing in one or two days. Our coach will be in charge of the team on Monday and kick off the season with our players,” Unal Aysal, the Galatasaray president, said.
“I can absolutely promise our fans a Turkish league title this year. Prandelli is brave, diligent, self-disciplined and hungry for success.”
'Balotelli has cost me €35m!' - Berlusconi angry over collapse of Premier League move
By Harry Sherlock
Jul 4, 2014 9:30:00 AM
The AC Milan president claims that the Italy striker was set for a big-money move to the Premier League but a poor World Cup has ended any chance of the transfer going through
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi claims that Mario Balotelli was set for a €35 million move to an English club until the striker's poor World Cup caused the transfer to fall through.
The former Manchester City striker has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal keen to acquire the 23-year-old.
Milan made the decision at the end of last season to cash in on the forward after a below-par club campaign. However, Berlusconi says Balotelli's disappointing showings in Brazil halted a transfer – and cost him a significant windfall.
“Other than Italy, I’m the one who lost at the World Cup,” Berlusconi is reported to have said during a political meeting by Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I was selling Balotelli to an English team for millions, but, after this World Cup, who will buy him now?
“I was going to sell him to a top English club for €35m."
Balotelli scored against England during Italy's 2-1 win in Manaus but failed to find the back of the net against Costa Rica and Uruguay as the Azzurri were eliminated at the group stage.
Rio Ferdinand to sign for QPR next week as club also target Steven Caulker, reveals Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp wants to partner Rio Ferdinand and Steven Caulker in the centre of defence for QPR next season
Wise head: QPR want Rio Ferdinand in their defence this season Photo: AFP
By John Percy
3:14PM BST 03 Jul 2014
Harry Redknapp is hoping to complete the signing of Rio Ferdinand next week and has revealed he also wants Cardiff City's Steven Caulker.
Redknapp, the Queens Park Rangers manager, is keen to put the finishing touches to the Ferdinand deal when the former England and Manchester United defender returns from Brazil.
Ferdinand is covering the World Cup for the BBC but has verbally agreed to sign for last season's Championship play-off winners on a free transfer.
The 35-year-old left Old Trafford at the end of last season and is prepared to take a significant pay cut to team up again with Redknapp, who gave him his professional debut at West Ham in 1996.
Redknapp told Telegraph Sport: "Rio has agreed to join us and we're hopeful of getting that one over the line when he gets back from the World Cup.
"I can't foresee any problems with it and we'd be delighted if we can get it done soon. He's been a player at the top of the list since he left Manchester United and he would give the whole place a lift with his quality and experience."
Caulker, the former Tottenham Hotspur centre-half, is another target and QPR have already agreed to pay the £8 million escape clause.
Crystal Palace have also met the required figure for Caulker but Redknapp wants the 22-year-old to partner Ferdinand at the heart of his defence.
However, QPR's attempts to sign Caulker could be threatened by Liverpool, Everton and Southampton, who are all believed to be interested in the Cardiff captain.
"We've agreed a fee with Cardiff and it's now up to Steven to decide his next move," said Redknapp. "I know him well from Spurs and he's always been a tremendous prospect. Hopefully that's another one we can get done."
Luis Suarez to leave Liverpool for five-year deal at Barcelona after £63m figure agreed between clubs, according to Spain reports
- Suarez will leave Liverpool for Barcelona after the clubs agreed terms
- An official announcement is expected on Sunday
- The striker is set to sign a five-year contract with the Catalan giants
- Barcelona will train at the National Football Centre from July 28 to August 2
- Liverpool are keen to sign Barca's Alexis Sanchez
- They face competition from Man City and Man United for the Chilean
Published: 19:05 GMT, 4 July 2014 | Updated: 00:45 GMT, 5 July 2014
Liverpool and Barcelona were inching towards an agreement for Luis Suarez on Friday night.
Catalan TV stations reported that a fee of £63million was agreed with Suarez handed a five year deal that would make him their fourth highest paid player behind Lionel Messi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta.
Liverpool are continuing to negotiate though and want to establish whether there is a chance of signing Alexis Sanchez.
Done deal: Luis Suarez has played his last match for Liverpool, say reports, with his move to Spain settled
On the move: Liverpool and Barcelona have agreed a £62.5million deal to secure Suarez's departure to La Liga
Controversy: Suarez's World Cup ended in disgrace when he was banned for four months after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini
Arsenal remain favourites for Sanchez but Manchester City and United have expressed interest, as have Juventus.
Sanchez is flying from Santiago, Chile to Barcelona to discuss the offers on the table.
An announcement on Suarez is expected with Barcelona hoping to break the news officially on Sunday.
Suarez could make a swift return to England with Barcelona due for pre-season training at the FA's St George's Park on July 28, although Suarez will not be able to train under the restrictions of his four month ban.
Liverpool, meanwhile, may move on from defensive target Dejan Lovren with Southampton insisting he is not for sale after rejecting their second bid of £15million plus add-ons. The 24-year-old will be fined if he fails to report to pre-season in two weeks' time but Southampton don't wish to sell. Southampton have also rejected Cardiff’s £3m bid £3m for defender Jose Fonte
Arsenal have pipped Liverpool to the signing of HJK Helsinki goalkeeper Hugo Keto, 18, a Finland U19 international, and remain favourites for Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez. Manchester City and United have expressed interest as have Juventus.
Meanwhile, Malaga want to take Manchester City’s signing Bruno Zuculini on loan as part of the deal for keeper Willy Caballero. Villarreal and Deportivo have also asked to take him on loan.
In action: Suarez is appealing his four-month footballl-wide ban
Support: Suarez shows his appreciation to the hundreds of fans who camped outside his mother's house
Wanted man: Liverpool want Alexis Sanchez from Barca but face competition from Manchester City and United
Official: Roma clinch Cole signing
By Harry Sherlock
Jul 7, 2014 6:31:00 PM
The Giallorossi have beaten off competition from the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool to acquire the ex-England international on a free transfer
Roma have clinched the signing of former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole on a two-year deal.
The 33-year-old left Stamford Bridge upon the expiration of his contract and has agreed a £38,000-per-week salary with the Italian side, who have an option to extend his deal by a further year.
Corporate: Ashley #Cole! @TheRealAC3 http://t.co/AJoJWu7wyf #ASR pic.twitter.com/fGMnvVWOfD
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) July 7, 2014
Cole was offered a new deal at Chelsea but instead chose to seek a new challenge, having won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups - more than any other player - in England.
Roma had to beat off competition from a number of clubs to sign the former England international, with Tottenham, Liverpool and AC Milan all expressing an interest in acquiring his services.
Instead, he will hope to add the Serie A title to his trophy cabinet, with Roma having finished second in the league in 2013-14.
Debuchy completes Arsenal medical ahead of €10m move
By Wayne Veysey
Jul 7, 2014 7:21:00 PM
The Gunners are expected to complete the signing of the France international, as talks with Barcelona over the acquisition of Alexis Sanchez progress
Mathieu Debuchy has undertaken a medical at Arsenal and looks set to complete a switch from Newcastle United worth at least €10 million.
The Gunners agreed a fee with the Magpies and are set to make Debuchy their first signing of the summer as they look to replace Bacary Sagna.
The 28-year-old revealed he was in talks to join the north London club in the wake of France’s exit from the World Cup last Friday.
The terms of the deal were finalised over the weekend, allowing Debuchy to then complete a medical on Monday evening and the deal is expected to be confirmed in the coming days after formalities are completed.
Arsenal will pay €10m up front, but the fee will rise due to appearance-related add-ons.
The club's spending on transfer fees could reach the €50m mark in the next week as they are also on the verge of capturing Alexis Sanchez after agreeing a €40m fee for the Chile star with Barcelona.
Arsene Wenger moved for Debuchy after deciding to buy a proven right-back rather than a more inexperienced player in the mould of the 21-year-old Toulouse defender Serge Aurier, who had been closely pursued by the Premier League giants after it became clear that Sagna was joining Manchester City.
Having watched Juanfran, another target, sign a contract extension with Atletico Madrid, Wenger sanctioned a swoop for Debuchy.
The Frenchman has been the regular right-back at Newcastle since joining from Lille in January 2013 and started four of France’s five World Cup matches ahead of Sagna.
Tottenham fail in bid to land Ben Davies and Michel Vorm by offering Swansea City Gylfi Sigurdsson in return
Danel Levy hopes to exploit Swansea's interest in taking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson back to Wales, but he will need to increase his offer - particularly if Spurs hope to land goalkeeper Michel Vorm as well
London calling: Tottenham have made a move for Michel Vorm Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Matt Law
1:57PM BST 07 Jul 2014
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has failed with an initial cheeky bid to land Swansea City pair Ben Davies and Michel Vorm in a straight swap for Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Swansea value left-back Davies alone at £10 million and Spurs still aim to sign him before the start of the new Premier League season.
Levy hoped to exploit Swansea's interest in taking midfielder Sigurdsson back to Wales, but he will need to increase his offer - particularly if Spurs hope to land goalkeeper Vorm as well.
Sigurdsson is open to the idea of re-joining Swansea, where he spent five successful months on loan in 2012.
Crystal Palace are also interested in signing 24-year-old Sigurdsson, who has made 85 appearances for Tottenham but can leave White Hart Lane this summer.
Despite the fact Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins is prepared to play hardball over deals for them, Davies and Vorm will be allowed to leave the Liberty Stadium if the right offer is made.
Swansea can replace 21-year-old Davies with Neil Taylor and the club have already signed Lukasz Fabianski on a free transfer to take over first-choice goalkeeping duties from Vorm.
Tottenham's interest in Holland international Vorm raises further question marks over the future of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, despite the club's insistence the Frenchman is not for sale.
Lloris has claimed he expects to start the new season with Spurs, but Paris Saint-Germain could yet test Levy's resolve to keep the 27-year-old. Veteran Brad Friedel signed a new one-year contract to stay at Spurs.
Re-signing Sigurdsson would help Swansea make up for the anticipated departure of Spanish forward Michu, who has not travelled on the club's pre-season trip to the United States.
Napoli have enquired about signing Michu and are keen on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer. There are also doubts over the future of Swansea winger Pablo Hernandez, who was not expected to travel to the United States.
Manchester United reveal new kit for 2014-15 Premier League season
Louis van Gaal's side will be running out at home matches at Old Trafford in these red shirts – but will it improve their performances compared to last season?
Red or thread: Manchester United have revealed their new kit for the 2014-15 season Photo: NIKE
By Telegraph Sport
12:00PM BST 07 Jul 2014
Hoping to purge the woeful disappointments of last season, Manchester United revealed their home Nike kit for the 2014-15 season on Monday.
It is the first time American car company Chevrolet's name will appear emblazoned on the famous shirt, in a seven-year deal worth £53 million a season.
Louis van Gaal's club have unsurprisingly retained their traditional red shirt, white collar and cuffs with a red-and-black trim. The kit is completed by white shorts and black socks with a red band.
And new signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw – as well as thousands of fans – will be itching to wear the new kit.
The shirt welcomes the return of the white collar, which for the first time is a ribbed crew-neck design, and the bottom of the collar has a subtle chevron finish to replicate the pattern used on the chest of United shirts as far back as the early 20th Century, and again in recent times.
The button hidden in the collar is unique to the shirt – it's red with a black trim and engraved with the club name.
Inside the back of the neck is a small label with the message: "Youth, Courage, Greatness." The words represent the club’s values.
On the back of the shirt below the neck is a black devil from the club crest, and across the back is a series of chevrons in engineered mesh to emphasise the importance of the shape to United.
The new home kit will be available to pre-order from July 7, and to purchase in stores and from Nike.com from July 16.
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