Blues set to battle Newcastle for Debuchy

Lille's Euro 2012 star right-back was expected to join the Toon this summer but is now being linked with a £6m move to Stamford Bridge.

 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants to carry on his summer spending spree - and is ready to snatch France right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle.

 Lille star Debuchy, 26, was expected to move to St James' Park this summer. But his performance for France against England at Euro 2012 turned heads at both Chelsea and Italian giants Inter Milan.

 Newcastle still hope to get their man, but the Blues are keen to strengthen at Debuchy's position after freeing Jose Bosingwa at the end of the season.

 Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel has long been on Chelsea's wish list, but a swoop for £6m-rated Debuchy would be seen as outstanding business.

 Chelsea, who this week confirmed hugely successful caretaker boss Robert Di Matteo as their permanent manager on a two-year deal, have already bought midfielders Eden Hazard of Lille and Marko Marin of Werder Bremen this summer for a combined £40m.

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Chelsea Enter Race for French Internatonal Mathieu Debuchy

Chelsea are ready to enter the race for Lille right back Mathieu Debuchy as Roman Abramovich continues to plot summer transfer moves. The French international full-back has been strongly linked with interest from Newcastle United but now the West London side are ready to thrown their hat into the ring.

 Abramovich and technical director Michael Emenalo have been working on bringing in additions to the Blues squad despite the appointment of a permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas and have thus far snapped up Werder Bremen winger Marko Marin and Belgian startet Eden Hazard.

 The Stamford Bridge side have been linked with a number of right sided defenders following the decision to not offer Jose Bosingwa a new contract with Ajax’s Gregory Van der Wiel being most often linked with a move to West London.

 Now Abramovich is ready to make a significant bid for 26 year old Debuchy.

 Debuchy has represented Lille since the age of eight and has racked up almost 300 appearances for the Stade Metropole side, helping Rudi Garcia’s side to the Ligue 1 title in 2010/11.

 Garcia is struggling to keep the nucleus of that title winning side having lost the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Gervinho, Eden Hazard and Moussa Sow over the past year.

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