Last Updated: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:15
French starlet Florian Thauvin has snubbed interest from Newcastle and Arsenal after he opted to stay in France with Lille.
Both the Magpies and Gunners were hoping to bring the highly-rated 20-year-old to the Premier League ahead of tomorrow's deadline but he has instead penned a four-and-a-half year deal with Lille.
The news will come as a disappointment to Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew, but the former Bastia ace believes he has made the right decision in snubbing them both.
"I am very pleased to join Lille," he told their website. "Lille offered me a beautiful sporting project, and I immediately liked it and with the support of my advisors we agreed straight away."
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