Marseille forward Florian Thauvin has rubbished rumours linking him with Aston Villa and Leicester City, telling Maxifoot he’s staying at the Ligue 1 giants.
Only two weeks ago, Tuttomercatoweb suggested the man who famously flopped during an ill-fated spell under Steve McClaren at Newcastle United was ready to have another pop at the Premier League.
Aston Villa and Leicester were eyeing a cut-price £13 million deal for the French World Cup winner, who is out of contract in summer 2021.
However, after scoring his first goals in 15 long, injury-stricken months, Thauvin has broken his silence and made it clear he has no plans to travel across the Channel again before this transfer window slams shut.
“Am I going to stay a Marseille player this season? Yes. I’ve already answered that question,” the 27-year-old said.
“The most important thing for me is to play football – that’s the thing I love the most. I’ve been injured for a long time. I want to have a great season, return to my best level.”
Thauvin has a long way to go to rediscover the mesmerising form that brought him 22 goals and 11 assists during the 2017/18 season. His form at the time sparked rumours he could become the most expensive signing in Bayern Munich’s history.
However, after scoring twice and setting up the other goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Brest, Thauvin is free of injury and on the right track once more.
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