Arsene Wenger admits interest in Thauvin

Florian Thauvin

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he was one of many interested parties in French youngster Florian Thauvin over the summer.

The highly-rated attacker burst onto the scene at Bastia and his performances brought attention from all around Europe.

Wenger has always looked into the French market for young talent so it is no surprise he was intrigued by Thauvin’s many talents.

The 20-year-old joined Lille, though, signing a four-year deal but they were left frustrated as Thauvin went absent without leave for a while in the summer to push through a move to Ligue 1 runners-up Marseille.

Now, after signing for Marseille, he has settled down to business and despite being tipped for greatness, he is detested in France for his lack of loyalty to Lille whom he never played for.

Wenger said: “It was a surprise transfer for me. We were following him and were interested in him before he joined Lille.

“He is one of the big prospects of French football. He will go higher. He’s only 20.

“His progress now will not depend on his talent, but on his mentality. Only the future will tell us.”