As we all know, the Premier League isn’t for everyone, and some players struggle to adapt when they come from abroad.
Florian Thauvin was the prime example of that when he transferred to Newcastle from Marseille, lasting just six months in the north of England before being sent back to the south of France on loan.
Moving against his will, as the Ligue 1 side needed money, the now 25-year-old never wanted to be at Newcastle, and it showed.
However, since his return to France, Thauvin has found a new lease of life, now the most important and decisive player in a Marseille team fighting for a Champions League spot, having scored 18 goals and picking up 16 assists in 42 appearances this season.
This great form isn’t anything new, finishing the last campaign with 15 goals and 11 assists, showing he’s still improving as a player, and is likely to be a very wanted man come the summer.
If that is the case, interested clubs will need to pay a lot, as the CIES Football Observatory now values the Newcastle flop at €82.3m, making him one of the players whose value has risen the most over the past six months (+€38m).
There’s been a lot of talk of where Thauvin could end up next, and many see Marseille as the perfect club for him to continue to grow, as there’s little chance of him returning to the Premier League anytime soon.
After all, if the French club make it to the Champions League, why would he leave? And it’s not like they’re going to want to sell him.
