For avid followers of the Premier League, but with no parallel interest in outside European leagues, the name Andre-Pierre Gignac won't ring too many bells. However, one's ignorance should not detract from the fact that the 28 year old French striker has scored 29 goals in the last two seasons for Marseille, and has represented his country on 16 occasions. In the summer of 2011, Gignac had just experienced a very difficult debut season with Marseille, having arrived from Toulouse for around £13 million. Keen to listen to offers for the profligate Frenchman, it was Fulham who caught the eye of the striker amid interest from some top European sides. However, following Marseille's failure to sign Juventus striker Amauri, the move fell apart, much to the disgust of the French centre-forward.
''We were told l'OM wanted to sign a forward so they would then be listening to offers for me. We were told about Olympiakos and Fulham. We went to London and immediately we felt their interest was concrete and serious. On Wednesday we had a medical. At 11.30pm, they called me to say I had to go back to Marseille because my forward replacement would not come. There was an opportunity to go to Sunderland. I could not reply yes to Sunderland and no to Fulham, because l'OM just made the decision of a swap deal with Gyan. At Fulham, they wanted me. I didn't see anyone at Sunderland. I'm not a mercenary. I'm not angry, but I have a bitter taste in my mouth.'' - Andre-Pierre Gignac, September 2011.
If one stays perfectly silent, they might be able to hear the faint sounds of the Frenchman still smarting over his failed Premier League move from three years ago.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
