Liverpool transfers: Midfield star makes final decision on becoming last part of Klopp revolution, as big asking price hinted
Khephren Thuram and Gabri Veiga with Liverpool badge
A midfielder heavily linked with Liverpool this summer has decided on whether he will be leaving his current club, and a report has suggested how much he might cost.
Liverpool have allowed James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to leave Anfield on free transfers. As a result, they have signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Mac Allister joined Liverpool on June 8 after Jurgen Klopp’s side agreed a deal with Brighton for him. It is worth an initial £35million, though it could eventually be worth £55m through add-ons.
Szoboszlai, meanwhile, became a Liverpool player on July 2 after the Reds matched his £60m release clause with RB Leipzig.
As both of those midfielders are creative and excel at going forward, Liverpool need a third new player to join who is more defensive-minded and can rival Fabinho for his starting spot.
Liverpool have previously expressed an interest in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone, but have been leaning towards Nice star Khephren Thuram and Romeo Lavia of Southampton in recent weeks.
Liverpool were given a major boost on July 6 as it emerged they would no longer face competition for Thuram from German giants Bayern.
But on Monday, Fabrizio Romano cast doubt over whether the 22-year-old would end up at Liverpool due to Nice demanding too much money for him.
Liverpool must move on from Ligue 1 ace
French newspaper L’Equipe have now provided their take on the situation. They reveal Liverpool’s chances of signing Thuram are pretty much over as he has decided to remain at Nice for another year.
He wants to continue his exciting development and feels staying with the Ligue 1 club is the best way to do just that.
It is likely Thuram will depart Nice in summer 2024, when he has another year of top-flight experience under his belt. But that will be too late for Liverpool, as they need a third midfielder to arrive this summer to help them get back in the mix for the Premier League title.
The report adds that Nice will only consider an offer for the Frenchman if it is ‘much higher’ than €40m (£34.1m). As things stand, it does not look like Klopp’s team will be launching such a bid.
Instead, Liverpool will now prioritise a move for Lavia, who put in some impressive performances during his debut Premier League season with Southampton. Although, they will have to move in quickly as English rivals Arsenal and Chelsea have also set their sights on Lavia.
