Aston Villa: One player the Villans should sign before the transfer window shuts

Name: Mathieu Debuchy
Position: Defender
Club: Arsenal

Debuchy has played just 144 minutes of Premier League football at Arsenal this campaign.

Aston Villa have been heavily linked with bringing in France international defender Mathieu Debuchy for the entirety of the January transfer window, so they best hope Sunderland don’t hijack their loan agreement for the Arsenal ace before Monday’s deadline.

Despite arguably needing to focus more on strengthening their attacking ranks over the course of the next few days; Villa boss Remi Garde seems convinced the full-back can boost the rock-bottom outfit’s chances of achieving the great escape this term having fallen ten points adrift of safety with only 15 league games remaining.

The 30-year-old, who has 27 international caps for his country, has made just seven appearances for the Gunners this season in all competitions.

Debuchy, who has fallen heavily out-of-favour at the Emirates Stadium under manager Arsene Wenger since the impressive emergence of fellow full-back Hector Bellerin, is eager to play more first-team football in the hope of being called up to France’s squad for this summer’s UEFA European Championships.

Former defender Garde is hopeful his relationship with Wenger; who was his first-ever signing for the Gunners back in September 1996, will help Villa finally secure a loan agreement for Debuchy’s services until the end of the season, despite Sunderland’s late interest.