United hit the £50 million mark with Thauvin capture

by toonsy · 19 August 2015, 20:42

Florian Thauvin Newcastle United have taken their summer spending beyond the £50 million mark with the £13 million capture of Florian Thauvin from Marseille.

The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at St James' Park in a deal which will see Remy Cabella depart Tyneside for Marseille on an initial season-long loan deal which could be made permanent next summer subject to certain conditions being met.

I'm intrigued with this one. The sounds from France seem to suggest that Marseille have got the better end of the deal as Cabella is, or was, a full French international while Thauvin has just potential to unlock. But a 22-year-old has the time to unlock that potential and it seems that within the corridors of St James' Park he has been deemed as worth the risk.

The club have been tracking him for a long time and now it seems as though they finally have their man. Described by Arsene Wenger a couple of years ago as the brightest young talent in French football the attacker doesn't have a hassle free past. He rather publicly fell out with fans at Marseille after a recent defeat to Caen and got himself involved with a fan after reportedly being spat on. Mind you if someone gobbed at me I'd give much the same response...

There was also the time he signed for Lille only to get loaned back to Bastia. That summer, without playing a game for Lille, Marseille became interested and he then basically went on strike to force a move. But hey, a Frenchman going on strike isn't exactly surprising is it?

Anyway, let's have a look at what Thauvin has had to say about his move to Newcastle and the Premier League:

“I am delighted to be a Newcastle United player. I have come from France to a really big club and am very happy to be here," said Thauvin.

He added: “It is a big honour to know that Newcastle have been after me for such a long time and that they wanted me that much. They have put their trust in me and I am looking forward to playing for the team.”

Meanwhile, the guy who is tasked with unlocking the potential had this to say: “Florian is a player the club have been watching for a long time and I am delighted that we have been able to sign him."

“He is a perfect signing for this club – someone who is young, with great potential and is one of the best young players in Europe. He is an exciting, creative talent who can score goals and make assists, and we believe he will have a very bright future at Newcastle.”

*Obligatory YouTube video below*