Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool enter talks over second midfield signing worth £52m; star’s two best traits named

Kingsley Coman and Khephren Thuram

Kingsley Coman and Khephren Thuram in training with France

Liverpool have entered talks to sign a £52m-rated French midfielder who is ‘keen’ to work with Jurgen Klopp, and his two best traits appear tailor-made for the German’s midfield.

Midfield is where the bulk of the action will come up at Anfield this summer. Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister looks set to be the first of numerous midfielders to arrive. The Argentine is expected to be allowed to leave and a move worth around £70m has gathered pace.

The capture of Mac Allister is likely to go through early in June with the player’s father arriving for talks earlier this week after details on his proposed Anfield deal were leaked.

Now, according to French outlet L’Equipe, Liverpool fans might not have long to wait for signing number two.

The publication state Liverpool have been in talks with the representatives of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram for weeks.

Those discussions have seemingly borne fruit, with Liverpool now opening dialogue with their counterparts at Nice.

From the player’s perspective, Thuram is reportedly ‘keen’ to work under Reds boss Jurgen Klopp. What’s more, his two best traits would appear to make him an ideal fit for what Klopp values in his midfield.

Khephren Thuram can make Liverpool brutal to play against

Liverpool’s midfield have always been at their best when deploying three selfless hard-workers who stifle the opposition.

Their willingness to press is key, as is their ability to help Liverpool dominate in transition by quickly winning back possession and then feeding the creative players on the flanks.

The report states Klopp wants two athletic box-to-box midfielders and Thuram’s two best traits are his ‘physicality and transitional play’. In other words, he’s the perfect man for Klopp.

Nice value Thuram around the €60m (approx. £52m) mark. His price tag has risen on the back of a superb campaign that saw him earn a place in the Ligue 1 team of the season. Thuram also made his senior debut for France earlier in 2023.

L’Equipe point out the move does not come without its difficulties, such as the likelihood of stiff competition from other clubs. Furthermore, Nice don’t actually want to sell Thuram.

However, INEOS’ potential takeover of Man Utd could see Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s attention taken away from Nice and be channelled solely on Manchester.

The report concludes Ratcliffe buying out the Glazers could actually prompt Nice to cash in on Thuram.

READ MORE: Liverpool attacker’s move to be brought forward after shock €100m exit tempts Real Madrid superstar