The Frenchman left the club on loan just months after moving to St James' Park, and now some insiders suggest he would like to end his ties with Newcastle.
The 23-year-old has joined former club Marseille until the end of the season after enduring a difficult time with the Magpies.
He has been poor - to say the least - and after being booed at Watford he told McClaren not to pick him for the first team.
£12m wasted? You bet!
McClaren explained that Thauvin remains in the club's plans for the future.
"The best thing was for him to go and play somewhere. Marseille wanted it, we think it's a benefit for him - and us," he told the Shields Gazette.
"But he comes back in the summer and is a Newcastle player.”
When asked if he still had a future with the club, McClaren responded: "Absolutely."