Mathieu Debuchy has seen his move to ESTAC Troyes collapse due to his wage demands while Chuba Akpom has reportedly agreed terms with Besiktas.

Mathieu Debuchy
Mathieu Debuchy

It’s easy to forget that Mathieu Debuchy was an Arsenal player who could have had a very good career with us had it not been for a Marko Arnautovic shove.

This summer, the 36-year-old finds himself without a club after his contract with Saint-Etienne came to an end.

As a free agent, Debuchy had been on the verge of signing for ESTAC Troyes but the deal broke down over an ‘inability to find a financial middle ground.’ In other words, he wouldn’t reduce his demands and they wouldn’t up their offer.

Mathieu Debuchy played 30 times for Arsenal, scoring two and assisting one while picking up seven yellow cards and a two-yellow red.

Chuba Akpom, meanwhile, looks like he’s on his way from Middlesbrough. Besiktas are said to have offered them €2m for the 25-year-old and the centre forward is said to have agreed a personal deal to join, keen to play in the Champions League. Middlesbrough, however, are said to want between €3m and €4m.

Akpom has scored five goals, with two assists, in 39 games for Middlesbrough since he joined in September from PAOK Salonika where he had scored 18, with 10 assists, in 79 games.

Akpom made 12 appearances for the Arsenal first team, registering two assists.