Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy has seen his move to OGC Nice collapse, with the French Ligue 1 side reportedly close to signing Christophe Jallet.

According to RMC Sport, Debuchy was set to join Nice in the next 48 hours but the deal quickly broke down when Jallet was available to them.

It’s bad news for the 31-year-old who has endured a difficult three years since his £12m move from Newcastle United, and it’s also bad news for the Gunners who have been desperate to have his wages off the books for some time.

Debuchy never had a chance to forge himself an Arsenal regular, making just 23 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions since joining. He has two years left on his current deal at the Emirates Stadium but has been up for sale for some time.

Manager Arsene Wenger, however, is finding the French international a tough player to sell this summer. Hector Bellerin’s rise to prominence left Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson subsidiary, and the lack of interest is the only reason they remain at the club.