Newcastle United winger Florian Thauvin returns to Marseille on loan

Newcastle United have announced that Florian Thauvin has returned to Marseille on a season-long loan, with the "obligation" of making the move permanent.

The 23-year-old spent the second half of the 2015-16 campaign on a temporary deal at the French club after failing to land a regular spot in the Magpies team.

Due to the signing of Matt Ritchie and their reported pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Anthony Knockaert, Thauvin would have moved further down the pecking order had he stayed at St James' Park for the upcoming season.

The Frenchman made 16 appearances for Newcastle and scored one goal.