Will this be the ONLY transfer Arsenal make this January?

You know it has been a troubling transfer window when your club’s only realistic link is to a young, mostly unheard of Frenchman.

After all, Newcastle get linked to about six of those a day.

The club I’m talking about is Arsenal and the player they’ve been linked to is Florian Thauvin, a 20-year-old French midfielder. Woopee!

Yes, there have been various, spurious links to players like David Villa, Stevan Jovetic and Mats Hummels, but it’s unclear how much truth there is in these stories. When it comes to Thauvin, however, there seems to be evidence of Arsenal interest. Bastia’s chairman, Pierre-Marie Geronimi has told the Press:

“This week I have had Arsene Wenger on the phone twice. He expressed his interest in the player to us, but it has not gone beyond that.”

But of course, since this is a young French star, Newcastle are obligated to stick their beak in: “Florian Thauvin has been the object of just one concrete offer so far, from Newcastle, for €3million (£2.6m), but we refused it. However, he didn’t want to prolong his contract with Bastia, but he will stay until the end of the season.” (Source: Here is the City)

So, Newcastle have come in with a bid that was deemed unacceptable by Bastia, who admit that their aim now is to keep hold of him until the summer. This transfer story is perhaps, a little too exciting for words.

But Newcastle and Arsenal are in a good position. If Thauvin wont sign a new Bastia contract, the club are likely going to want to sell whilst they can still get a decent price for him.

As for the player himself, he looks like a fine young talent – if not quite the real deal just yet. He’s already made 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season and has notched 3 goals and 2 assists. Not exactly startling figures, but he has shown some signs of potential.

If he joined Arsenal, he’d surely be a Thomas Eisfeld type signing – a highly rated youngster signed to go straight into the reserve team, with the hope that he’d develop into something really special. I’m not sure he’d threaten the first team too much this season.

Personally, I’m a little disappointed that this is the strongest link Arsenal have formed this January. Hopefully Wenger is in the process of securing better deals under the radar – but I won’t hold my breath. Florian Thauvin, whilst not a spectacular signing, is better than nothing.

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