Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stated that there we are not on the verge of signing anyone, making it entirely plausible that the Gunners are finished with incomers for the January transfer window. Two players who could still be heading out the exit door however, are defenders Carl Jenkinson and Mathieu Debuchy.
Jenkinson has reportedly had an offer accepted from Crystal Palace by Arsenal, but the right back has failed to agree personal terms as of yet. I can imagine that Palace are unlikely to offer the unimpressive defender anywhere near the wages that he is getting from Arsenal. Debuchy on the other hand, does not supposedly have any clubs lining up for him and so his foreseeable future looks likely to remain at Arsenal. The Frenchman has previously spoken about his outburst with Arsene Wenger, in which he was fuming over the proposed transfer to Manchester United. Wenger reportedly blocked the move, not wishing to directly strength a rival (and denied afterwards that there was ever a deal on the table) but given Debuchy’s lack of minutes at Arsenal the defender was left extremely frustrated. A year later and not much has changed. Debuchy returned to France this time last year to link up with Bordeaux for the second half of the season, and now it seems as if he once again hopes to attain a move to Ligue 1.
At 31 years old, Debuchy arguably still has a few more years left on the big stages of football if he’s able to prove himself. But injuries and a lack of first team action at Arsenal has undoubtedly hindered the game he had prior to his move to North London. Debuchy’s Arsenal career was effectively over before it even got started, the introduction of Bellerin in the first team became a permanent move and Debuchy was left to sit on the sidelines.
In these final few days of the transfer window it seems that the Frenchman is calling out for a return back to Ligue 1, either on loan or in a permanent deal. However as of yet he is yet to get no avail and a move looks unlikely. A move back to France may be what he wants because it’s possible that he intends to finish his career back in his homeland. The likes of Marseille, Bordeaux and former club Lille, have expressed an interest in the past, but is the door still open for Debuchy now? And if an offer came in, can you expect any French side other than PSG paying the amount of wages we pay to our reserves?
Wenger reminded the press earlier in the week that Debuchy is free to leave, but it seems to be a lack of interest from others clubs which is the problem, rather than Wenger not wanting to let him go, and is our wage structure always going to cause problems when we want players to leave?
By AH
Wenger should just pay someone to take Debuchy, and make up any difference in wages for Jenkinson for the rest of this season. If he proves himself then maybe he can negotiate from a position of strength.
But whatever happens they both have to be gone by the end of the month.
I agree on Debuchy, but I had high hopes for Gooner Jenkinson.
He was promising at West Ham before his injury but maybe there was a problem with Wenger coz he suddenly said Jenks had lost his confidence, now he wants to sell him. Looks fishy to me.