Jurgen Klopp has reportedly directed Liverpool to establish contact with Nice for a potential deal involving Khephren Thuram, viewing the French midfielder as the final piece to enhance their midfield setup at Anfield.
Following the summer departures of six players from Liverpool’s midfield, the club invested £145.2m to reinforce this area, signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch. Despite these signings rejuvenating Liverpool’s midfield from last season’s underperformance, there’s a sense that Klopp’s side remains incomplete.
While Szoboszlai has stood out and Mac Allister and Gravenberch have shown glimpses of their potential, there are reservations regarding the effectiveness of Endo, signed for £16.2m. Observers have questioned Endo’s suitability, with suggestions that he might not meet Liverpool’s standards, potentially prompting Klopp to seek a new defensive midfielder to fill Fabinho’s role.
With reports labeling Endo as a ‘failure’ and considering him more of a stopgap solution due to his age of 30, Liverpool appears set to explore further upgrades in 2024, potentially as soon as the upcoming January transfer window. Among the candidates considered are Brazilians Gabriel Moscardo from Corinthians and Andre Trindade from Fluminense.
However, Klopp is reportedly focusing efforts on securing Nice’s Thuram, intending to strengthen Liverpool’s midfield significantly. Reports indicate Liverpool is prepared to make an official bid of up to €45m (£38.8m) for Thuram in January, viewing him as one of the finest defensive midfielders in France. Juventus is also interested, but Liverpool’s financial might could overshadow any competing offers.
Liverpool has reportedly initiated contact with Nice, signaling their readiness to invest in Thuram. Nice is currently deliberating their options, weighing the prospect of accepting Liverpool’s offer, which would set a new club record sale, surpassing the €30m (£25.9m) received for Jean-Michel Seri in 2019. However, Nice’s ownership, led by incoming Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, is leaning towards rejecting the sale at present. Coach Francesco Farioli is cautious about making disruptive moves that could affect the team’s momentum in the Ligue 1 title race midway through the season.