Florian Thauvin celebrates after scoring a goal (Getty Images)
According to Leicester Mercury, Leicester City target Florian Thauvin could become a free agent by the end of the season. He will be free to talk to clubs from January regarding a pre-contract agreement.
Born in France, Thauvin spent time at the academies of US Orleans and Grenoble Foot before joining SC Bastia on a free transfer. Two years later, he was signed by Lille but failed to make a single appearance. However, he excelled in his final season with Bastia and earned a move to Marseille in 2013.
Newcastle United signed him after he impressed with Marseille but he endured a torrid time at Tyneside, making just 16 appearances before returning to France. However, since then, the 27-year-old’s career has scaled to greater heights.
He managed to score 15 league goals in 2016/17 and followed it with 22 goals and 11 assists in the following campaign, where he finished as the second-highest scorer in the league (source – Transfermarkt).
He continued with the fine form in the 2018/19 campaign, scoring 16 goals. But a major injury in the following season put him on the sidelines. Thauvin was also a part of the French squad which won the World Cup in 2018.
Premier League fans may not have very fond memories of Thauvin because he struggled quite badly for Newcastle. However, his Marseille form might just suggest otherwise. The winger is a class act on the pitch, with the ever effective ‘cut in from the right and use the left foot’.
Leicester do have the likes of Rachid Ghezzal and Ayoze Perez but they are nowhere close to the abilities and flair of Thauvin. The winger is not only a prolific goalscorer but also a very good playmaker. With Harvey Barnes on the left and Thauvin on the right, the service to Jamie Vardy would be lethal. That forward combination could unlock any defense.
With Leicester linked to the winger earlier in the summer, they should try to make a deal happen soon. In January, they could sign him on a pre-contract agreement which would see him join the Foxes in the following summer. This is a deal that has very little risk factor and could well turn out to be a shrewd piece of business.
