Olympique de Marseille have signed more British players than most of their French rivals in recent years, but their latest link came as a surprise.
Joey Barton and Steven Fletcher have both spent time at the Ligue 1 club of late, as has Stockport-born Jamaican international Tyrone Mears.
So when Bristol City forward Lee Tomlin was rumoured to be in talks with L’OM, it didn’t seem entirely far-fetched.
Still, you’d have thought someone might have thought to mention it to Tomlin himself.
While France Football admit the link comes as a surprise, the publication compares Tomlin to former Marseille frontman Mickaël Pagis – now a beach soccer star.
Tomlin, who played a handful of Premier League games for Bournemouth last season, has quickly laughed away the rumours, which are certainly out of left field.
https://twitter.com/Leetomlin10/status/808689902284140544
And he was joined in his disbelief by…well…pretty much everyone.
https://twitter.com/dylanAFCB11/status/808711738568966144
Lee Tomlin to Marseille, what a time to be alive
— Antivixers (@CalvertPromo) December 13, 2016
Tomlin. Marseille.
Who's been in the pub that long before tonight's game?
— TheLastKingOfDorset (@SomeCraigFella) December 13, 2016
Marseille are currently ninth in Ligue 1, 16 points adrift of league leaders Nice, after winning six of their opening 17 games.
So obviously the solution to their problems is a man whose career highlight was this turn for Middlesbrough against Manchester City. If this move goes through, we’ll mange our chapeaux.
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
