Newcastle finalised Debuchy deal

Newcastle United have completed the signing of French right back Mathieu Debuchy from Lille on a five-and-a-half year deal.



The defender was believed to be close to joining the Premier League side during the summer transfer window following a string of impressive performances during France's Euro 2012 campaign, only for the two clubs to be unable to agree a fee.



Debuchy was present during Newcastle's 2-1 defeat to Everton on Wednesday as he watched from the stands at St James' Park, and joins up with fellow France internationals Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye after completing the five-million-pound move.



"I hope I can bring something fresh to the team and help us get up to the highest possible position in the Premier League this season," Debuchy told the club's official website.



"I will give everything for this club."



Meanwhile, manager Alan Pardew admitted it was a 'huge relief' to secure the long-term target's signature.



"It's no secret we've been trailing him for some time now and to have reached this point fills me with great excitement and anticipation in respect of what he will be able to offer the team," said the Newcastle manager.



"At the same time it's a huge relief to actually have him with us now.



"He is an established top international player and it is a real coup for this club that we now have him at St James' Park.



"Mathieu will add real quality to our team, in terms of his ability, character and experience and I am sure he will quickly become a firm favourite among our fans too."



The right-back has 12 caps for his country so far, scoring one goal, whilst he won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France with Lille in 2011.



The France international is expected to feature in Newcastle's next Premier League fixture, against Norwich on January 12, however he will unavailable for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie away to Brighton.

Newcastle in new Debuchy move

Newcastle have made a fresh move in their bid to capture Lille full-back Mathieu Debuchy.



Press Association Sport understands the Magpies have stepped up their protracted pursuit of the 27-year-old defender, having so far not managed to persuade the French club to part with him.



Manager Alan Pardew had made the right-back one of his main targets this summer and will hope the latest offer will trigger a positive response.



Debuchy, an international team-mate of Yohan Cabaye, has indicated his desire to follow the midfielder to Newcastle, but having seen Cabaye's value increase significantly since his £4.8million switch last summer, Lille are holding out for their valuation.



Reports in France have suggested they want eight million euros - around £6.3million - a figure way in excess of the Magpies' initial offer.



Pardew has been waiting patiently for a breakthrough with one of his major targets - FC Twente defender Douglas and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll are among those about whom enquiries have been made - while at the same time bolstering his development squad with the acquisitions of Roman Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana and Curtis Good.



However, with the start of the new season fast-approaching and the challenge of Europa League football to be added into the mix, further strengthening to the senior set-up is also required.

Saha could still return to France

According to Talk Sport, Lille and Marseille are interested in signing French striker Louis Saha, who is currently in search of a new club.



Saha has been playing in the English Premier League for some time now and could be keen to finish his career in his home nation. He has not played in Ligue 1 for twelve years.



At 33-years-old it may be tough for him to find another club in England’s top flight but he is certainly still a talent and a move to one of these French giants could be the perfect choice for him.



Saha had expressed that he did not want to play in France but this could be the best option he has.



The former French international may sway towards Lille as they have a chance to be playing in the Champions League next season whereas Marseille finished tenth in the league.



It will be a tough choice for Saha and these two clubs being interested in his signature could spark a few more teams around Europe to make a move.



As a free agent, this could be one of the best deals in this summer’s transfer window. It is one to keep an eye on.

Kalou agrees Lille switch

French newspaper L’Equipe reveals that Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou is set to sign a deal with Lille.



The 26-year-old has been a free agent since his contract at Stamford Bridge expired on 30th June, but he didn’t need a lot of time to find a new club.



According to L’Equipe, Kalou arrived in Lille yesterday evening, accompanied by his brother and agent Bonaventure, the former PSG player.



The player agreed a four-year deal with the French giants and after successfully passing a medical he is now expected to sign for les Dogues.



Kalou will receive a large signing bonus seeing that he arrives on a free transfer and he is expected to replace Joe Cole in the starting line-up, after the Englishman returned to Liverpool.



The Ivorian forward will see a move to Stade Lille Metropole as an opportunity to get his career back on track following several disappointing seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Martin sign for Lille

French Ligue 1 club Lille on Wednesday confirmed the signing of France international midfielder Marvin Martin from Sochaux.



Martin, 24, has signed a five-year contract with the northern outfit, who qualified for next season's Champions League play-offs after finishing third in Ligue 1.



"I am really very happy. I wanted to sign for Lille because they are an ambitious club who had been following me for a long time," Martin was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Lille, who gave no details of the transfer fee.



"Hopefully I can bring my know-how, but also continue to learn here."



Martin rose to prominence in 2010-11 when he played a starring role as an unfancied Sochaux finished fifth in Ligue 1, although he was less impressive last season as the club where he began his career only narrowly avoided relegation.



He has won 14 caps for France, and has made two substitute appearances so far for Les Bleus at Euro 2012.



Lille will hope the signing of Martin can help plug the sizeable gap left by Eden Hazard, who was sold to Chelsea for £32 million earlier this month after being named France's player of the year two seasons in succession.

Newcastle United Wade Into Mathieu Debuchy Battle with €5M Bid

Newcastle United have made their move in the battle for Lille’s highly-rated full back Mathieu Debuchy.



According to French radio station RMC, Lille have received a bid of €5M for Debuchy from the English Premier League outfit.



However, the sum has quickly been deemed as €3M too little by Rudi Garcia’s men, who are under no financial pressure to sell the 26-year-old for less than they believe he is worth.



Indeed, the €40M which has flowed into Lille’s coffers from selling Eden Hazard to Chelsea has ensured that Garcia is in a strong position.



Debuchy, who is currently with Laurent Blanc’s France squad at Euro 2012, is a man in demand.



Another English side, Chelsea, are also believed to be seriously interested in the defender, and an offer of €7M from the Champions League winners has been mooted.



Newcastle meanwhile have mined the French market to spectacular effect over the last 12 months and snaring Debuchy would be yet another coup – they will have to raise their bid though to secure his signature.



Debuchy made 32 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, scoring an impressive five goals from his defensive role.

Chelsea confirm Hazard signing

Chelsea have completed the transfer of Eden Hazard from Ligue 1 side Lille, the Premier League club announced on Monday.



The 21-year-old Belgian international has agreed personal terms with the club and passed a medical examination with the reigning Champions League winners.



"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce we have agreed terms with Lille for the transfer of Eden Hazard," the west London club said on their website.



"The 21-year-old Belgian international has agreed personal terms with the club and today passed a medical examination.



"He will join the club in July when the players return for pre-season training."



Having spent the off-season being pursued by a host of major European clubs, Hazard declared that he would join the Blues last week.



Hazard scored 21 goals in 48 appearances for Lille last season, also making 18 assists as the club finished third in Ligue 1.

Cole keen to resurrect Reds career

Joe Cole would love to have a second crack at making a success of his Liverpool career after an impressive season on loan with French club Lille.



The 30-year-old midfielder endured a poor campaign with the Reds after joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2010.



He resurrected his career in 2011-12 by helping LOSC finish third in Ligue 1, scoring nine goals in 42 appearances for Rudi Garcia's side, but admits the "fire still burns" to prove himself on Merseyside. "I would love the chance - if they wanted to - to put it right," he told Sky Sports News.



"I don't want that on my career. I've been a success at West Ham, a success at Chelsea, and come to another country in France and had a good season.



"It's just that season at Liverpool. It's in their hands. I'm easy whatever way but the fire still burns with me and I would love to have the chance put it right if that's what they wanted."



And Cole believes the dismissal of manager Kenny Dalglish earlier this month may open the door for a return to Anfield.



"Kenny was a good guy - he didn't lie to me. I wasn't in his plans," the player added.



"It [Dalglish's departure] just changes my future. Whereas it was quite clear before Kenny got the sack that I wouldn't be going back there, who knows what will happen now? I'm just waiting on some kind of information."

Hazard heading to Chelsea

Eden Hazard tonight finally ended speculation about his future by announcing he had decided to join Chelsea next season.



The 21-year-old Lille playmaker, who had long been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League, revealed he had chosen the newly-crowned European champions on his official Twitter account.



Hazard earlier continued to keep fans of several clubs in suspense by posting he had "made up his mind" who he was going to join but declined to name the team in question.



There was no official confirmation this evening from either Chelsea or Lille that a deal had been reached over the signing of Hazard, who has been rated at £32million.



But reports in France suggest the Belgium star has agreed a five-year contract worth as much as £100,000 a week after tax.

Hazard confirms Manchester move

Lille winger Eden Hazard has confirmed he will be heading for Manchester, but refused to reveal whether he will be in City blue or United red.



The Belgium international has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Arsenal also believed to be in the hunt. Hazard confirmed at the weekend that he would be leaving Lille and in a further drip-feeding of information he has said he will be in Manchester.



Speaking at the awards gala after being named Ligue 1's Player of the Year, Hazard said: "I am going to Manchester. The decision will be taken soon."



City are believed to be leading the race to sign Hazard and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects the Premier League champions to be big spenders this summer. "We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about that," the Scot told MUTV.



Ferguson may feel his rivals will spend big, but City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has hinted the days of lavish spending at the club may be a thing of the past.



City ended their 44-year wait for league glory when scoring twice in injury-time to beat QPR 3-2 and pip rivals Manchester United to the Premier League title.



Big-money signings Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany played their parts in the title success. Following up their league win and pushing on in Europe are next season's objectives and they have been linked with a host of big names. It is likely that manager Roberto Mancini will be an active player in the transfer market, but Khaldoon feels the current crop will be given the chance to repeat their heroics.



"We have a championship-winning team," Khaldoon said. "We are not starting from the same point as in other pre-seasons. We have had to improve in a very dramatic manner. Now we have a nucleus. To improve further we have to harness that nucleus."



There were fears that City had blown their chance when trailing QPR heading into injury-time and Khaldoon is keen to shed the ''typical City' tag.



"Everyone will have their own experience of what happened," he told the club's official website. "I don't think any league will be decided like that for many years to come.



"Maybe some people imagined it was 'typical City'. We are not typical City. We have destroyed that thought. This is not a team that is going to lie down. Now we want to forget about 'typical City'.



"This club wants to win more than anything and will fight for that until the last kick of the game."