Marseille ‘won’t even look at’ £70m bid for Newcastle flop

Matt Stead

Marseille insists they “won’t even look at” an offer of £70million for Newcastle flop Florian Thauvin.

Thauvin has been one of the understated stars of the European season, scoring 26 goals and assisting 18 for Marseille to guide them to the Europa League final and probable Champions League qualification.

The winger left Marseille to join Newcastle for £12m in 2015, but returned to the club on loan within six months after failing to have a positive impact in the Premier League.

He extended his loan deal in the summer of 2016 before returning on a permanent basis the following year, and his performances have since attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud has set the bidding high.

“If there is an offer of 80million euros for Florian Thauvin, I won’t even look at it!” he told SFR Sport.

“He’s aware that OM have given him a lot of support. This is not the end of the story. There are still even more beautiful pages to write. We’re counting on him for next season to take us even further.

“He has had an extraordinary season. He’s a great player. He has grown, he has matured, and the coach has helped him a lot to achieve his goals, even to surpass them.

“The numbers speak for him and it’s a great satisfaction to see him in [Didier] Deschamps’ squad.”