Man Utd target Thuram shortlisted by 'dream' club

Stuart Telford

• 14 Apr 2023 11:46 BST
• 3 min read

France star Marcus Thuram is available on a free transfer this summer with Manchester United among a host of Premier League teams interested, but his father Lilian has hinted he would rather play for someone else…

Thuram has blossomed into a full France international at Borussia Monchengladbach, and the club hoped they would earn a significant mark-up on the €9 million they paid Guingamp for his services in 2019.

But he and teammate Ramy Bensebaini will leave under freedom of contract at the end of the current campaign, and United have been closely linked with a player who, like Marcus Rashford, can play anywhere across the attack.

READ: Man Utd's SEVEN striker transfer options

Thuram went to the World Cup with France and provided two assists on their run to the final. Father Lilian, France's all-time record appearance maker with 142 caps, played for Barcelona at the end of his career and could imagine his son doing the same.

'Dream of playing for Barcelona'

"Every player has the dream of playing for Barca, that's a reality," he admitted at the presentation of his book El Pensamiento Blanco earlier this year. "But I don't know if ther's interest or a contract. The important thing for Marcus is that he continues to improve."

Mundo Deportivo report that Thuram is indeed on Barca's shortlist, writing that he is: "one of the players on Barca's agenda as a possible reinforcement up front."

READ: Pique told Barcelona to let Messi leave in 2021

It is a claim that rings true. With Barca having to find €200 million in order to take part in La Liga next season, they will be focusing on the free transfer market in order to reinforce their squad.

Lionel Messi is available with his Paris Saint-Germain contract expiring, although the club legend could still break the bank with his salary demands. Real Madrid's Marco Asensio is another who could reinforce the final third, while Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan is financially viable at central midfield.