Florian Thauvin set for medical after clubs agree deal – Reports
The departure of Florian Thauvin is painfully dragging on but news this morning that just maybe it is nearing a conclusion.
Reports in the Italian media on Sunday claim that Antonio Candreva is set to today at last finalise his own long running transfer saga, with a move to Inter set to be signed before the day is out.
As has been widely reported previously, Lazio are going to use some of that Candreva fee to allegedly sign Florian Thauvin as replacement for the Italian international midfielder/winger.
The reports today saying that as soon as Candreva’s move has gone through, Thauvin will take his medical, as Newcastle and Lazio have agreed their part of the deal.
Saturday saw Florian Thauvin included in the matchday squad against Vitesse Arnhem at St James Park.
Maybe tellingly, despite having been used as a sub in all four of Newcastle’s previous pre-season friendlies, the French winger was one of only two outfield players left on the bench.
The other being Cheick Tiote who has only played 34 minutes in the friendlies and despite an initial £800,000 offer being turned down by Newcastle, Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira are now said to be close to agreeing a fee United.
With Rafa Benitez having made clear he intends to bring in further players, the departure of the likes of Florian Thauvin and Cheick Tiote certainly won’t hinder that process.
Fingers crossed that a move does happen shortly for Thauvin, as the last thing Newcastle need is a repeat of when the French winger went on strike at Lille to force a transfer to Marseille.
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