Florian Thauvin expected to depart Newcastle after just six months, Marseille favourites to re-sign

Florian Thauvin is keen on a move to his former club Marseille

Florian Thauvin is expected to depart Newcastle in the current window, just six months after signing for the club, Sky sources understand.

The winger joined the Magpies in a £12m deal from Marseille last summer and his former club are understood to be favourites to re-sign him on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Sky sources understand that Thauvin - a highly-rated 23-year-old - will be allowed to leave St James' Park once the transfer of Andros Townsend from Tottenham is completed.

Townsend's move is expected to be announced later on Wednesday after the player underwent a medical in the morning.

Newcastle's regional newspaper, the Chronicle, has reported Thauvin is unsettled in the north-east and he can only play for Marseille this season, having already played both for them and Newcastle.

Thauvin began his career at Grenoble before spells with Bastia and Lille, and he is a former France U21 international.