Newcastle target Mathieu Debuchy plans to leave Lille

 

Tuesday 17 July 2012 13:59 BST
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Debuchy has reiterated his desire to quit Lille after the Euro 2012
Debuchy has reiterated his desire to quit Lille after the Euro 2012 (Getty Images)

Mathieu Debuchy has reiterated his desire to quit Lille and seek a new challenge.

The right-back, who excelled at Euro 2012 for France, has been linked with Newcastle and Inter Milan but has so far seen his attempts to engineer his departure from the 2011 Ligue 1 champions frustrated.

"Despite my commitment to Lille - the club is in my heart - I am 100% committed to leaving. I want to leave LOSC," he told L'Equipe.

"The coach wants to keep me but I will not change my opinion."

He admits, however, that the situation is complicated by Lille's insistence of bringing in a replacement before they sanction his exit.

"The discussions are not going very well," he said.

"For now I am stuck in Lille. LOSC want to find my replacement before I am released.

"Ten, 15 players have been suggested to them but still nothing happens.

"There must be a little goodwill. It disappoints me and bothers me."

Lille coach Rudi Garcia would only confirm the club are continuing to search for Debuchy's prospective replacement to allow him to complete his move to Tyneside.

"He has expressed his wish to leave. I understand that," Garcia told La Voix Du Nord.

"Now, we are searching for a possible replacement."

PA

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