Mathieu Debuchy to Sunderland: Black Cats ready to pounce to beat Aston Villa to Frenchman

Arsenal prefer a permanent deal but Debuchy has requested they arrange only a temporary move

(Getty)

Sunderland have reportedly joined fellow Premier League strugglers Aston Villa in the race to sign Mathieu Debuchy.

The Arsenal full-back has fallen out-of-favour at the Emirates this season and will be allowed to leave on loan if the Gunners receive a financial package which matches their valuation.

Remi Garde, the Villa manager, has pursued Debuchy’s signature all month but has been frustrated with the lack of progress made.

According to the Daily Mail, Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is prepared to scupper the Midlands club’s move for the Frenchman and has travelled to London to persuade him to move to the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal prefer a permanent deal but Debuchy has requested they arrange only a temporary move so he can play regularly and stake a claim for France's Euro 2016 squad.

Allardyce said recently: “You’ve got to find out if that quality of player wants to come and join you, and ask the question.

“Sometimes, the circumstances will allow you to sign them, especially with the European Championships coming up this summer.

“For instance, Youri Djorkaeff came to me [at Bolton] because he needed to play first-team football, so he could play for France in the World Cup that year.

“Otherwise he wouldn’t have even bothered with Bolton Wanderers. In fact, he wouldn’t have even known where it was.

“But because it was a necessity for him to play first-team football, we were the only club that could give him a shot and he saved us. And then he stayed for three more years because he liked it that much.

“Sometimes, these things can all fall into place.”