- 3 hours ago
Marcus Thuram: January switch likely for Man Utd target
Marcus Thuram looks destined for a move this January despite the initial plans of waiting for the summer, we are told.
In November last year, word was that Inter looked to be the most likely club he would head to but that Borussia Mönchengladbach would try and resist a move until when his contract is up in June 2023.
If it was a January move, which is now far more likely, the German club would ask for around €15million - but given the interested suitors involved now, you can expect that to be higher.
It will still be a relatively cheap deal considering. He is an attractive prospect for many clubs: he is cost-effective, is only 25 years, can play in a variety of positions up front, or as a winger, and has ten Bundesliga goals to his name already this season.
The deal makes sense to Manchester United, who are looking for an attacker at a low cost, as well as Chelsea, who are also in dire need of a new face up front given the season-ending injury to Armando Broja and the plight of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
We are told a move to Inter, who were initially the favourites, now seems less likely. Given their circumstances, the club no longer pose as an exciting prospect to the player.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also among Thuram’s choices, but he has already stressed his desire not to join Newcastle or Aston Villa, who had registered an interest.
He had a gentlemen’s agreement with his current club whereby if he stayed he would have the opportunity to finish as the Bundesliga’s top scorer - he is currently second, only behind Christopher Nkunku - and the club would be able to reach a Europa League spot.
But now that plan seems much less likely.
Thuram is a thunderous talent, taking 3.65 shots per 90 mins and averaging an xG of 0.61 at the same time. Last season, he struggled to find form but this campaign he has already equalled his best-ever Bundesliga total.
He is the son of France World Cup winner Lilian Thuram and was part of Didier Deschamps' side that finished as runners-up in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The younger Thuram
Thuram's brother, Khephren, is reportedly seen by Chelsea as an alternative option to Benfica's Enzo Fernandez.
The Nice midfielder, who FootballTransfers values at €17.9million, was looked at by Newcastle over the summer and it appears they are now back in, with need of a central midfielder.
Khephren has made 113 appearances for Nice since joining them from Monaco and is considered a huge talent with massive potential.