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Newcastle make fresh approach to Lille in attempt to sign Debuchy
Aug 2, 2012 12:30:00 PM
Alan Pardew's side have been met with frustration in their chase of the right-back this summer as they look to strengthen the first-team squad
| Bet: | Returns: | Lille £19.52 | Draw £36.00 | AS Saint-Etienne £40.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lille £19.50 | Draw £33.00 | AS Saint-Etienne £40.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lille £19.09 | Draw £34.00 | AS Saint-Etienne £39.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lille £19.10 | Draw £34.00 | AS Saint-Etienne £40.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lille £19.10 | Draw £34.00 | AS Saint-Etienne £40.00 |
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Newcastle have made a fresh approach to Lille as they finally look to secure the signing of defender Mathieu Debuchy.
Alan Pardew’s side have been chasing the right-back throughout the summer, since before the start of Euro 2012, but have only been met by frustration in their attempts to sign the 27-year-old.
Lille are holding out for a fee of around €8 million (£6.3m) for the France international and are reluctant to settle for any less after seeing the success of Yohan Cabaye since he moved to St. James’ Park for a bargain £4.4m last year.
The asking price is far higher than Newcastle’s initial bid but the English outfit, who finished fifth in last season’s Premier League, are aware they will have to come a lot closer to the requested fee if they are to secure the signing.
Debuchy, who has played for Lille throughout his nine-year senior career, has spoken of his frustration at being left in limbo this summer and made it clear he would like to make the move for England.
Cabaye has also called for a swift resolution to talks, saying he thinks the defender would make a very good addition to the Magpies’ ranks ahead of the new campaign.
Newcastle have made three signings in the summer transfer window so far, with Roman Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana and Curtis Good being added to the squad.
However, Pardew is yet to seal one of his main three targets; Debuchy, Liverpool striker Andy Carroll or Douglas of FC Twente and is growing anxious as the new Premier League season draws closer.
Newcastle are also aware of the need for a bigger squad following their qualification to the Europa League after their successful campaign last time around and they now want to kick-start their summer by finally ending their pursuit of Debuchy.
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
5:07 PM BST
Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!
5:03 PM BST
We’re still awaiting the confirmed line-ups but if you’re looking for the likely starting 11s, let me point you in the direction of our match preview. Also, if you want an excellent and entertaining analysis of tonight’s fascinating final, well, how does a James Richardson-hosted debate involving Jonathan Wilson and Paulo Sousa tickle your fancy? The prince of puns, a true titan of tactical thinking and a two-time Champions League winner - a veritable dream team, I think you'll agree.
4:59 PM BST
The injury-enforced absence of Dortmund’s Bayern-bound playmaker, Gotze, is of course the principal talking point in terms of team news. The 20-year-old’s unavailability is clearly a hammer blow for die Schwarzgelben, but, as team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz pointed out this week, Dortmund destroyed Bayern in last year’s DFB Pokal final without Gotze.
4:54 PM BST
But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.
Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.
"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."
But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”
Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.
"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."
But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”
4:44 PM BST
However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."
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