Arsenal Agree £12m Deal for Newcastle United Defender Mathieu Debuchy

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Newcastle United defender Mathieu Debuchy, according to the Metro.

The 28-year-old is currently on international duty with France as his national side has made it to the last eight of the ongoing World Cup.

The report claims the Gunners have agreed a £12m deal with the Tyneside club and the right-back will make his Emirates switch after the summer tournament in Brazil.

The north London club need to sign a right-back as they are left with Carl Jenkinson as the only first choice defender in the squad, following Bacary Sagna's departure.

The French international left the Emirates on a free transfer and has agreed a deal to join Manchester City next season.

Arsene Wenger's priority is to strengthen the right-back position and has set his sights on Debuchy as a potential successor to Sagna.

Earlier in May, the Newcastle right-back claimed that his agent was handling the transfer talks as he wanted to focus on the World Cup.

"No, honestly, I did not hear about any talks over a possible transfer to table. For my part, I do not feel affected by it. I leave it to my agents to manage that and I remain focused on the World Cup," Debuchy said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's hopes of signing the French international were further encouraged after Debuchy expressed his desire to feature in the Champions League next season.

His current employers are ineligible to feature in the European competition and a move to the Emirates will help him fulfil his dream of playing in the continent's elite club competition.

"I miss European football and the Champions League in particular. For the moment, I'm concentrating on the World Cup. We'll see about the rest afterwards," the Newcastle star explained.

Should the report be true, a move for Debuchy this summer is likely to end Toulouse right-back Serge Aurier's hopes of joining the Gunners. The Ivory Coast international has publicly expressed his desire to join Wenger's side.