The Nice midfielder would be an excellent addition to a depleted midfield…
Liverpool are interested in OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, with a concrete offer possible following an initial round of talks.
What is the current status of Khephren Thuram‘s visit to Liverpool?
Thuram’s entourage has already met with Liverpool’s recruitment officials, according to RMC Sport (translated by Caught Offside), to lay the groundwork for a potential summer transfer, with the Reds in desperate need of midfield replenishment after a disappointing season.
L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) reported the day before that Liverpool had made more concrete moves for his signature than other clubs.
The departures of experienced midfield trio James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have increased the need for new faces, and Thuram, who thrives across multiple central positions, could provide an excellent upgrade.
If Liverpool want the rising star, they will need to pay at least €40 million (£34 million). Thuram is highly regarded by his club and is attracting interest from the opulent Paris Saint-Germain, though with only two years left on his current contract, Les Aiglons may be willing to sell.
How talented is Khephren Thuram?
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, will be hoping for a quick return to prominence next season after the club failed to finish in the top four and thus missed out on next year’s Champions League.
Thuram, described as “tenacious” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is only 22 years old but is already thriving as one of Ligue 1’s most promising talents, having made his France debut this season and played a pivotal role in Nice’s season, forging 48 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and supplying eight assists.
One Anfield Wrap podcaster praised him for his “tremendous” midfield skill set. The 6 foot 4 colossus is an imposing presence but possesses an elegant and fleet-footed gait that belies his stature, lauded by one tactical report for his efficacy as a ball-carrying vehicle and dominance in the center of the park.
According to FBref, he is among the top 6% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90 minutes, indicating that he is capable of taking on his man and progressing up the pitch, two elements that have arguably been lacking at Anfield this season.
Gini Wijnaldum used to bring this kind of assiduous sheen to the Anfield center when he was at the club, playing a composed role and keeping the system ticking, boasting a career average pass completion rate of 88.4% and being one of the centerpieces of Klopp’s momentous feats since taking over the Reds.
Thuram has been dubbed the “perfect profile” by RMC Sport reporter Alex Jaquin, and embodies the energy and enthusiasm that Klopp requires to turn the cogs of his high-octane philosophy at full speed, with his manager Didier Digard also describing him as “very hard-working.”
This is exactly the role Wijnaldum played on Merseyside during the pinnacle of Liverpool’s illustrious success under Klopp, with the hardworking Dutch midfielder making 237 appearances for the Reds and leaving Klopp waxing lyrical, dubbing him “perfect” for his central work.
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