Reports coming of out English and French press this evening, is that Newcastle United are set to once again, sign yet another Frenchman to bolster the ranks at St. James Park. Newcastle’s local newspaper The Journal understand that the Geordies have lodged an uncharacteristic bid of £10m for Lille wonderkid Florian Thauvin. Meanwhile, Ligue 1 side Marseille have already lodged two bids for Thauvin, but have been rebuffed as Lille don’t want to sell to a league rival.

This would put Alan Pardew’s team in pole position to sign the 20-year-old left footed winger. Thauvin has upset his current club Lille by not turning up for training this past week, obviously trying to push a move through.

Lille’s Sporting director Frederic Paquet has admitted the player had recently failed to turn up for training, in an attempt to possibly force a move to a new club: “I can confirm that Florian Thauvin did not come to training this morning,” he said. “He told the coach this weekend. We have taken note.”

French broadcaster RMC claim that Newcastle have stepped up their interest in Thauvin, who they see as a perfect replacement for the outgoing Yohan Cabaye. However, I fail to see how that statement is correct when the 20-year-old is much more of a wide player than Cabaye is.

Thauvin, as shown in France’s recent Under-20 World Cup triumph, is a left-winger/attacker with tremendous ball control, trickery with great pace and acceleration. The player joined Lille from Bastia last summer, but was instantly loaned back to Bastia where he scored seven goals in 13 games, but he is now unsettled once again. Before he signed for Lille, the Toon were linked last June with Thauvin and had the chance to purchase the left-footer then, but the then regime of Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Lee Charnley refused to pay the £3.5m wanted for the player – now Ashley, Charnley and Joe Kinnear are set to pay at least £6.5m more.

Newcastle United are yet to sign a player for a cash sum this transfer window, with the only first-team arrival being Loic Remy, signed on a season-long loan from Queens’ Park Rangers. If Thauvin does arrive at St. James Park, he will definitely add some much needed creativity to Pardew’s side. The Magpies have been struggling to create opportunities for Senegalese hitman Papiss Demba Cisse.