Much had been made of Lille’s right-back Mathieu Debuchy prior to Euro 2012 and with the standards set high, he didn’t disappoint. In a somewhat dreary campaign for France, made worse by their early exit at the hands of Spain, the 26-year-old lived up to expectations after being labelled one of the players to watch over the European Championship.
Prior to the tournament, La Liga giants Valencia and Premier League outfit Newcastle United were both overly keen on Debuchy, with many speculating that a bid had been lodged from both teams. However, Les Dogues are likely to be after top dollar for one of their prized assets, especially with the money they received for Eden Hazard.
Yet, of the above two teams, one stands out particularly that would suit Debuchy and the club in question – Chelsea. The Blues are looking to strengthen their back-line this summer following the release of Jose Bosingwa and the likely sale of Paulo Ferreira. With Branislav Ivanovic a better centre-back than right-back, the Frenchman’s arrival would see the giant Serbian international switch back into the centre of defence.
His maurading runs and exceptional defensive capabilities would provide suit the Blues style of play very well, especially with both qualities all too similar to Ashley Cole. Supporting former team-mate Hazard, Marko Marin and Frank Lampard, for example, could see the Lille star become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, should Roberto Di Matteo, as has been rumoured, look to snare Debuchy.