Lille have completed the signing of Troyes full-back Djibril Sidibe, which could pave the way for Mathieu Debuchy to join Newcastle.
New arrival could push through Toon deal for Debuchy
Lille have completed the signing of Troyes full-back Djibril Sidibe, which could pave the way for Mathieu Debuchy to join Newcastle.
The 19-year-old has been at Troyes his entire career, having joined as an eight-year old in 2000.
Since making his first-team debut in 2010, the full-back has earned France Under-20 recognition and played his part in the club's promotion from Ligue 2 last season.
Lille have acted quickly to snap up the highly-rated full-back on a five-year contract, which places the future of fellow full-back Debuchy in doubt.
Newcastle have been tracking the 26-year-old all summer but Lille have been reluctant to do a deal until a replacement had been found.
Despite the arrival of Sidibe, it remains to be seen whether Les Dogues view him as a sufficient replacement for Debuchy or one for the future.
"I'm very happy to join Lille, who are one of the biggest teams in France," Sidibe told the
club's official website.
"The ambition and the project of the club but also the style of play developed by Rudi Garcia, convinced me.
"It is obviously a big step in my career. Up to now, I have only played in Ligue 2 with Troyes.
"I have had unforgettable moments with the club but with Lille, I will get to play in Ligue 1 and in Europe.
"It really is a great opportunity for me to be part of this adventure. The bar is set high but it is terribly exciting."
