Liverpool will have to pay around €50 million to tempt OGC Nice into selling Khephren Thuram, with Jurgen Klopp still retaining an interest.
According to Foot Mercato, OGC Nice could demand as much as €50 million to sell Khephren Thuram. Liverpool have shown tremendous interest in the 22-year-old midfield ace, but any move will depend on reduced price tags and players leaving the Merseyside club.
Jurgen Klopp has a huge dilemma regarding the shape of his midfielder ahead of the new season. The German boss has plenty of options despite the raft of departures during the close season, but the manager may need further additions.
Klopp desperately wanted to re-shape his midfield during the off-season, and the club have appropriately recruited for the manager’s liking. Alexis Mac Allister arrived from Brighton, followed by the sensational transfer of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.
The duo will bring a new dimension to their midfield, but Klopp may eye another player. Romeo Lavia remains someone of interest to Liverpool, but his massive asking price has proved problematic. The Belgian is more of a holding player, but the club already have plenty of options in Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Fabinho.
The media reported they had ceased the pursuit of Khephren Thuram due to their interest in Lavia. But the two players are of different profiles, meaning Klopp could retain an interest in the Frenchman. If that remains true, OGC Nice would demand at least €50 million for the 22-year-old midfield ace.
Nice does not wish to sell Thuram in this window, but they surely will next summer if his contractual situation remains the same. Clubs could get him cheaper than the current asking rate, but Liverpool might want the player now.
Thuram plays on the right side of the midfield, something Klopp may need to bring in. But signing the 22-year-old midfield ace would require the club to offload some of their existing midfielders. Jordan Henderson and Thiago are linked with moves, but Klopp may not offload both in the same window.
The second issue is the €50 million price, as Liverpool would want Nice to reduce the asking price. Prolonged negotiations might do the trick for the Reds, who had held concrete talks with their French counterpart for the 22-year-old.
Then there’s also the player’s desire, who may have had his head turned by the interest from Liverpool. The Merseysiders are now the only English side with a concrete interest in Thuram, which may play in their favour while negotiating with Nice over the price.
