Liverpool reportedly have another chance to sign former target Khephren Thuram this summer, having chosen not to pursue him in 2023.
The Reds were heavily linked with the Frenchman, and at one stage it had looked inevitable that he would arrive alongside countryman Manu Kone.
But while Kone has been showing his quality with Roma, Thuram has also been growing into the midfielder he always looked like becoming with Juventus. According to Tuttosport, however, Juve are ready to sell the 25-year-old this summer, with Liverpool still lurking around. As they look to bolster their midfield ahead of the new season, Thuram could finally be the answer.
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Thuram is the kind of midfielder Liverpool need
Liverpool ultimately chose to sign Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in 2023, and it feels possible that Gravenberch was the player who made Thuram’s move unlikely.
The two are similar in terms of playing style, but having won 1.17 tackles per 90 minutes to Gravenberch’s 1.08 last term, Thuram is a slightly better ball-winner.
Liverpool are expected to play on the front-foot under Andoni Iraola, and Thuram is also good at winning the ball back high up the pitch, winning possession 0.48 times per 90 in Serie A last term. For comparison, Gravenberch was at 0.27, Szoboszlai 0.56 and Mac Allister 0.41
Thuram is also a fantastic duel winner, coming out on top in 53.9% of ground duels last season, and using his six foot two inch frame to win 50.7% of aerial duels.
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Tall, robust, excellent on the ball and hard in the tackle, Thuram could be the ideal midfielder to bolster Iraola’s ranks.
Tuttosport claim that Juventus are ‘working hard’ on selling the France international, with Man United and Nottingham Forest joining Liverpool in being interested. For now, the proposed €50m fee is said to be too high, but if that comes down a touch, this is a deal we could see happening.
Thuram does not have to be a starter for Liverpool
Looking at the way Iraola set his team up at Bournemouth, it feels likely that he will go with two sitting midfielders with Florian Wirtz in front, rather than a Jurgen Klopp-style No. 6 holder.
For now, it feels most probable that Szoboszlai and Gravenberch will be the two chosen, with Mac Allister the next man up.
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Curtis Jones is still likely to be sold, though, meaning there is a lack of a fourth option for Iraola, and Thuram looks an ideal player to bring in to do that job.
Capable of starting, but not necessarily needed to, the former Nice man could be an almost like-for-like switch for Gravenberch if the Dutchman is injured or in need of a rest.
For less than 50m, Liverpool are not going to find a player who could fit what they need as well as this.
Some supporters may prefer to go for an old-school ball-winning type midfielder to stop teams playing through them as easily next season, but with better tactics in place from Iraola, Thuram could eat ground up, win the ball back and drive Liverpool up the pitch. We can think of few better options.
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