Sky Sports sources understand Newcastle United have made an improved offer to sign Lille's France international Mathieu Debuchy.

Pardew hoping to wrap up deal for Lille full-back this week

sources understand Newcastle United have made an improved offer to sign Lille's France international Mathieu Debuchy. The right-back has been a long-term target for the Magpies and Lille rejected an offer from the Premier League club earlier this season. Lille were initially reluctant to let Debuchy go until a replacement had been signed, but the capture of Djibril Sidibe from Troyes last week appears to have accelerated the situation. Newcastle are now trying to push through a deal for the defender and have upped their bid in an attempt to get the transfer done this week. Debuchy is keen to move to St James' Park and his close friend, and former Lille team-mate Yohan Cabaye, revealed earlier this week that he is hoping the deal will happen. The 27-year-old has three years left on his contract and has also been linked with Inter Milan, but Newcastle are favourites to secure his signature.