Liverpool identifies son of legend as solution to midfield problem

Liverpool are considering OGC Nice’s Khephren Thuram as a midfield option this summer. Jurgen Klopp is looking to review that area of ​​his team and is looking at at least two players, having missed out on Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

The priority will be energy and run combined with the ability to carry out the German’s tactical demands. Thuram’s assessments are that he fits that after considerable development in the French league.

The son of French legend Lilian Thuram and brother of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram, the 22-year-old made his international debut this year in the 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifier over the Netherlands. He has two years left on his contract at Nice.

For their part, Liverpool have a thoroughly vetted list of potential midfield options as Klopp looks to reinvigorate his side. Among the names being looked at are Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount, Fulham’s Joao Paulinha and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

Klopp has stated that there was no point in talking about things he could not have said when asked recently about the club’s decision to withdraw from the race to sign England midfielder Bellingham.

And now that the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested, the full price of the package now seems to be out of reach for Liverpool, forcing the Reds to look elsewhere in their midfield rebuild.

“I have nothing to say about that,” Klopp said. “We are not talking about players that we signed or did not sign, so now we are not talking about this type of speculation. There is nothing to say about it.

“It’s not about Jude Bellingham, my answer now, but I never understood why we talk about things we theoretically can’t have. We can’t have six players in one summer, all for £100m. Everyone would say that it is clear.

“You have to figure out what you can do and then work with it. That’s your job. We are not children. When you ask a five-year-old what he wants for Christmas and he says, I don’t know, a Ferrari, you wouldn’t say it’s a good idea, you’d say it’s too expensive and you can’t drive it anyway.

“If this kid was really unhappy because he didn’t get a Ferrari, it would be a really sad life.

“You look at what you can do, and you work with it. This is how I always worked. What we need and what we want, we try everything to try to get it, but there are times when we have to accept and step aside and do different things.

Liverpool will lose Arthur Melo, who has yet to play in the Premier League, when his loan to Juventus expires this summer, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner also become free agents.

Fabinho has endured a difficult season but the Brazilian has three more years on his contract, with captain Jordan Henderson linked to the club until 2025.