Marseille are desperate to extend Florian Thauvin’s contract as the reported Aston Villa and Leicester City target closes in on becoming a free agent, sporting director Pablo Longoria has told Telefoot, translated by Calciomercato.
The World Cup winner might have finally put his injury issues behind him during a start to the season manager Andre Villas-Boas has labelled “extraordinary”. However, his short-term future remains as uncertain as ever at the Stade Velodrome.
Thauvin is out of contract in summer 2021.
And, unless fresh terms can be agreed soon, cash-strapped Marseille might have no choice but to sell one of their star players on the cheap in January.
In August, Tuttomercatoweb reported Aston Villa and Leicester were interested in Thauvin, while the form team of European football – an AC Milan side unbeaten in 20 games and with four wins out of four in Serie A – are also sniffing around.
“Thauvin is a club heritage, that’s why it’s hard to lose an important player like him,” says Longoria, who is clearly worried about an increasingly uncertain situation.
“(In January), he will be free to agree terms with another club and that’s why we all have to work together – club, player, entourage – to find the best solution.”
Marseille were willing to consider offers of £13 million for Thauvin during the summer and his price tag could fall further in a few weeks’ time.
And after drawing a blank in each of their last two league games, the Frenchman’s ability to produce something out of nothing could tempt a suddenly toothless Leicester to overlook his miserable spell at Newcastle United.
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