Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi admits Olympique Marseille winger Florian Thauvin has long been on their radar.

Indeed, Grimandi says they've been following the France international since before his ill-fated spell at Newcastle United.

"When he was playing for Bastia we were following him at the time," Grimandi told L'Equipe.

"However, we eventually moved onto other targets."

He added: "Today, he would be playing regularly for Arsenal."