Florian Thauvin: Scout Report

Florian Thauvin is a French footballer who currently plays for French Ligue 1 club LOSC Lille. He joined in the January transfer window from SC Bastia, and is currently loaned back to them until the end of the season. He can play as a central or left midfielder, but is capable of playing in other positions as well.

Florian Thauvin was born on 26 January, 1993 in Orleans, France. Orleans is a city in north-central France, about 130 kilometres (81 mi) southwest of Paris. For a fact, New Orleans in the United States of America is named after it. Like most of the kids in the region, Thauvin fell in love with football from a very young age. He signed up at local club Ingre in 2000 at the age of 7. He stayed there for around 5 years and left in 2005 at the age of 12. He instantly impressed and was taken by sixth division club FCO Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle. He played there for around 2 years before leaving for local club US Orleans – considered the best club in the Loiret department - in 2007. US Orleans were in the 4th division - Championnat de France amateur (CFA) at that time – and it was a helpful climb in Thauvin’s career. In the one year he spent with the club, he attracted interest from the Championatt National, with several teams scouting the young player.

Thauvin decided to stay in the CFA and joined Grenoble, who were able to capture him in 2008. It was the first time Thauvin had to move cities, leaving Orleans behind. Grenoble helped players like Gael Danic, Laurent Courtois, Youri Djorkaeff, and others develop. Thauvin appeared for Grenoble’s youth team for two years before signing his professional contract in 2010. He made the right choice joining Grenoble as they were promoted to Ligue 2 in 2011. He made his professional debut on 11 March 2011 in a 1–1 league draw with Vannes. He appeared three times that season, and had multiple offers from other Ligue 2 clubs. Grenoble was relegated to the Championatt National before they endured financial difficulties, and eventually got sent to the CFA. On 7 July, they went into liquidation and couldn’t participate in the CFA, being sent to 5th division CFA 2. Thauvin wasn’t expected to stay with a CFA 2 club, and decided to join Ligue 2 club SC Bastia on a free transfer. In addition, he was called up to the France U-18 squad in 2010, appearing in 2 international friendlies.

It was an exciting challenge for Florian Thauvin, who was getting regular football with a freshly-promoted SC Bastia. It was time for Thauvin to head to the Ligue 1, and he appeared 13 times, promoting SC Bastia with a 1st place finish. That season, he played in the Coupe de France and was called up to the France U-19 squad, appearing twice in international friendlies. He wasn’t the main striker last season due to the likes of Toifilou Maoulida and Jérôme Rothen, but this season he is SC Bastia’s main man. With Thauvin and Wahbi Khazri, SC Bastia has been excelling this season. Florian Thauvin has proved his potential and is a goalscoring machine. Very recently, he scored 8 goals in 4 matches. He also got called up to the France U-20 team, scoring 1 goal in 5 matches. So far, he has scored 9 goals and assisted 2 in 27 matches, and is being followed by several European clubs. He was smart enough to stay in France, and joined LOSC Lille in the recent January transfer window, but remains on loan with SC Bastia until the end of the season.

Florian Thauvin is considered to be one of the most exciting prospects of France. France’s player development program is one of the best in the world, as they raise young players who become world-class players. Thauvin is a fast-paced player – if you unleash him on a counter-attack, he won’t disappoint you. Watching him several times throughout the season, he seems to be all over the place. He runs all over the midfield, and is a very energetic player. When he plays, you feel his passion for the club and passion for success. He is SC Bastia’s star at the moment, and is an integral part of their attack. He may have raw attributes, and hasn’t fully developed at the age of 20, but has major potential. He may be one of the best in a couple of years, and any European team would love to have him.

Thauvin’s strengths include dribbling and finishing – both superb attributes for the France U-20 international. You put him in front of the goal and he won’t disappoint you with his excellent accuracy. He loves to play short passes, as he plays on the left or in the centre. He is weak in long shots, but loves to cross the ball from the left. Thauvin is part of the newer generation, and loves to cut in and take a shot – something teams are looking for these days. He doesn’t dive into tackles and is an indirect set-piece threat. He is also often fouled due to his pacey runs and the threat he offers.

One more attribute that Thauvin possesses is that he can score with both feet, having scoring 2 goals from his right and 5 goals from his left. Not counting his goals this season, SC Bastia would lose 6 points as he always clinches important goals. The only problem is that he can’t keep hold of the ball as his body structure is light. He isn’t a towering midfielder who terrorizes everyone with his physicality; but with experience, he can deal with it. Thauvin needs to improve his aerial duels because when he does take part in them, he isn’t always the best, with an average of 46% in winning aerial duels. In 27 appearances, he has created 25 chances, has a 50% shot accuracy and a 69% percent average pass accuracy.

Transfer Situation

Florian Thauvin was heavily linked with Newcastle United – who were on a spree of signing French players - in the January window. Newcastle were willing to offer £3-4 million for Florian Thauvin, but Bastia wanted £6 million. Thauvin wanted to stay in France, and decided to join Lille. He is expected to join them in the summer after his loan back to Bastia ends.

Here is what Thauvin had to say regarding his move to Lille: