Liverpool's summer transfer plans have been thrown up in the air with reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's OGC Nice could hang on to midfield target Khephren Thuram.
Thuram, the son of World Cup winning defender Lilian, played his 100th game for the Ligue 1 club last season. His form brought a first senior cap for France, as well as Premier League interest, with Liverpool continuing to rebuild after losing several senior midfielders.
Nice endured a difficult 2022-23, finishing ninth and missing out on European qualification. Any suggestions this might force them to sell one of their key men, however, appears to be wide of the mark.
According to Nice-Matin (via The Mail ), Ratcliffe's club want to keep Thuram for another year. His current deal at the Allianz Riviera runs until 2025, and Nice appear keen to give him time under their next permanent manager with reports from the continent suggest interim boss Didier Digard will not continue in the role permanently.
"I want to progress, go on the field, have fun," Thuram said at the UNFP Awards. "For now, I'm in Nice. It's going very well. I really like the club, so I still see myself in Nice. I am very well in Nice.
"There are noises, I hear, but I'm happy in Nice. I hope to grow with this club. I would like him [Digard] to stay because he brought a lot to this group when it was in a difficult period."
Thuram is currently away on international duty with France's under-21 side, and is not expected to make a decision on his future until he returns. Les Bleuets are in pole position to reach the quarter-finals after beating Italy and Norway in their first two group games.
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Liverpool have already wrapped up their first summer signing, with Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister joining from Brighton. Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will not be at Anfield next season, though, while Arthur Melo's loan move from Juventus will not become permanent.
"I do not think the football world needs me to say too much about Alexis' qualities because they are already pretty well known but it is clear that he is someone who can play in a number of positions in the midfield and is an all-rounder, I would say," manager Jurgen Klopp said of Mac Allister. "He is calm and composed and someone with proper game intelligence."
If Liverpool do also land Thuram as part of their midfield rebuild, the number eight shirt would be free for the Frenchman. Mac Allister revealed he opted to take the number 10 shirt - last worn at Liverpool by Sadio Mane - after discussing the options with his father.
"I knew there were several numbers available - including 10 and 8," the World Cup winner said. "The No 8 shirt is a very important number in that club because of Gerrard, so I hesitated a bit. I ended up choosing the 10, but 8 is a number that I like a lot and has a history at the club.”
