Thursday, 1st September, 2011
French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac was on the verge of moving to either Fulham or Newcastle United, but Marseille pulled the plug at the last minute.
Gignac had flown to England to put the finishing touches to a season-long loan deal with Fulham, though Newcastle soon stepped in and the 25-year-old could well have ended up at St. James’ Park.
But Marseille boss Didier Deschamps was forced to pull the plug on the move after the French giants failed with their own bid to bring in a striker.
Deschamps was hopeful of snapping up Amauri from Juventus, but that deal fell apart at the seams late on.
Marseille were then linked with Sunderland forward Asamoah Gyan, who was reported to have asked to move from the Black Cats. That too though got nowhere and Marseille picked up the phone to Gignac, ordering him back to the Stade Velodrome.
For Gignac the night was a disappointment with the France international excited at the prospect of a move to the English Premier League.
Now the former Toulouse marksman must concentrate on the task at hand at the Stade Velodrome and put any move plans on ice until January.
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