According to reports from Mirror Football, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger personally blocked Mathieu Debuchy’s potential move to Manchester United on transfer deadline day.
The France international was desperate to secure a loan move away from the Emirates after making just two Premier League appearances in the first half of the season and the Red Devils were mooted as late contenders for his signature amid a defensive crisis at Old Trafford.
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All five of Louis van Gaal’s senior full-backs, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian, are sidelined through injury and having featured at both No.2 and No.3 throughout his career, Debuchy could have helped fill the void.
But according to Mirror Football, Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger personally stepped in to ensure the north London club didn’t end up strengthening a Premier League rival – ‘categorically refusing to sanction any deal’.
Aston Villa and Sunderland were also in the hunt to sign the 30-year-old but he agreed a six-month loan with Bordeaux instead, which should give him the chance to impress France boss Didier Deschamps ahead of Euro 2016.