Dubious reports suggest that Newcastle United have had an audacious £10.7 million bid rejected for Marseille winger Florian Thauvin. The Daily Mail claim that the Magpies launched a 15 million euro, or £10.7 million, offer for Thauvin earlier this week but that Marseille are holding out for closer to £18 million. Having paid £12 million to Lille for Thauvin in 2013, the Ligue 1 side hope to made a 33% profit on the winger, despite his poor performances over the last couple of seasons. Yet it appears unlikely that Newcastle would open the bidding for the winger at such a high fee, seeing as that is near the top price range for what they would be willing to pay for Thauvin this summer. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Tyneside in the past because he is a favourite of chief scout Graham Carr's and reports last month claimed the Magpies were close to agreeing a £12 million fee for the France Under-21 winger, although nothing came to fruition. The Chronicle did suggest on Tuesday, however, that Newcastle will finally look to secure the forwards signature this summer due to the fact he has been made available for transfer by Marseille. The extremely highly-rated Thauvin - who has already played for four different sides and has commanded transfer fees of a combined value of more than £15 million to date - is seen as an ideal replacement for Papiss Cisse, who the Magpies are looking to offload for £10 million this summer. The French winger started his career at Grenoble before moving to Bastia in 2011. A £2.5 million transfer to Lille followed in 2013 but Thauvin was immediately loaned back to Bastia where he scored 10 times in 51 games. It was in 2013 that Marseille beat Newcastle to Thauvins signature - and he has scored 15 goals and provided 14 assists in 79 appearances since. He has also netted seven times in 10 France Under-21 games. The 5ft 10in forward - who can operate in the centre, but usually plays wide in an attacking system or as a winger - has been seen as the next-best thing in France for five years now, but can Newcastle really get the best out of him? For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
