Liverpool must 'break the bank' for long-time 'object of desire'

Tom Weber

21 Nov 2023 12:38 CST
4 min read

Liverpool are still keen on Khephren Thuram and they have a crucial advantage over other suitors, according to Italian media, but signing him won't be easy.

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The midfielder is once again being linked with a move to one of Europe's elite clubs. A star in the centre of the park for high-flying Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, Thuram is proving that his performances last term weren't just a flash in the pan.

Heavily linked with Liverpool and Man Utd in the summer, Thuram ultimately remained with Nice and he believes that this was the correct decision at that stage of his career. Nevertheless, the French side may find it tough to keep hold of the 22-year-old in the long run.

The Frenchman has many suitors and both Liverpool and Man Utd are once again among them. But English giants aren't the only ones looking at Thuram ahead of the turn of the year. According to Corriere dello Sport, Inter and Juventus are also in the mix, with the former already having Khephren's brother, Marcus, in their ranks.

Man Utd and Liverpool snubbed again? ❌

The agent of Khephren Thuram's famous father wants him to sign for Real Madrid! 👀 pic.twitter.com/YkqeUAWJ5Q
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) November 20, 2023

Reds must 'break the bank'

Nice, unsurprisingly, aren't too keen on letting one of their star players depart, but in football, everyone has a price. According to the Italian outlet, the price to acquire Thuram currently stands at around €40 million.

Though a hefty fee, this gives Liverpool - or any other Premier League suitor - a crucial advantage because most Italian clubs are unable to shell out that much on a single player. Juventus and Inter have both fallen on tough times financially lately and are not capable of matching that price outright.

Thuram is a long-standing 'object of desire' for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but whether the Reds will make a move remains to be seen. They are in the market for another midfielder but they also want to add another centre-back - such as Goncalo Inacio who has a €60m release clause - in January, so they may have to think twice about spending €40m on the Frenchman.