Khephren Thuram and France's Under-21 European Championships campaign ended in disappointment last night as they were dispatched 3-1 by Ukraine at the quarter final stage.
Les Bleus initially raced into the lead via Olympique Lyonnais' Rayan Cherki, but quickly fell behind and went on to lose the match within 90 minutes. To add to Thuram's personal misery, he was hauled off after 72 minutes having been booked earlier in the second half.
The OGC Nice man had been at the heart of his country's success at the tournament prior to their first knockout tie, playing two of the three wins in the group stages.
It's a result that has left those across the English channel angered. Manager Sylvain Ripoll was targeted in the media for his fourth tournament elimination, along with Thuram himself due to his individual performance.
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Handing out player ratings, Get Football News France awarded the 22-year-old a saddening four out of 10 mark, along with a scathing personal review.
"Struggled at dictating the tempo of the game and was not involved enough in France's build-up play," they wrote. "A disappointing outing from the Nice midfielder, given his potential and his status as a senior France international. Unsurprisingly substituted, and replaced by Amine Adli."
Whilst Thuram will undoubtedly reel from his latest display, there is plenty to look forward to in his fledgling career. For one, now that his international duty has ended, his fate in fate in the transfer market can be decided.
He has been at the centre of intense speculation to make the switch to Liverpool since the season over, with the fact he was absent from his current club's new kit reveal and a fresh update from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has put him on the club's shopping list along with Southampton's Romeo Lavia.
This would take Liverpool's additions this summer to four midfielders, following on from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai's announcements.
Now that Thuram is taking a step back from the action, this would appear to be the opportunity that Anfield chiefs were waiting for.
Injury free? Tick. Available? He would appear to be. Yet to return to Nice for pre-season? Correct. This leaves Liverpool with one more big question surrounding their most heavily linked target - will they finally make a move?
