Liverpool transfer target Khephren Thuram has spoken out about a potential move to Anfield this summer, insisting he is "happy" at Nice.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all departing on free transfers. The Reds were plotting a move for Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham, but pulled out of the race to sign him due to the scale of the rebuilding job on Klopp's hands.
"We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100 million," Klopp admitted. "That is clear. We are not children. Ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say a Ferrari, you wouldn't say that's a good idea, it's too expensive and you cannot drive it."
As a result, Liverpool are planning to use the funds they would have spent on Bellingham to make several new additions and they are plotting a move for Thuram. The 22-year-old midfielder, who is the son of legendary defender Lilian Thuram, enjoyed an impressive campaign for Nice this season.
Thuram featured in 35 Ligue 1 games, with his performances earning him an international debut with France and a spot in the Ligue 1 team of the season. Speaking at the UNFP awards, however, Thuram said he 'hopes to grow' with Nice and suggested he would not be on the move this summer.
"I want to progress, go on the field, have fun," he said. "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 [manager Didier Digard] to stay because he brought a lot to this group when it was in a difficult period.
"I don't know if I tell him enough but he's someone I can never thank enough. He helped me a lot in difficult times in my young career. We worked a lot together. I wish him only happiness, in Nice, or elsewhere."
Digard, meanwhile, suggested Thuram should "continue his progress" at Nice, telling RMC Sport: "Khephren's fantastic. He's very hardworking, very attentive. On rest days he's at the training centre. He recovers quickly for back-to-back matches and completes high-intensity training.
"He listens and applies himself. He has room for improvement and he's in demand. He simply eats up video analysis, additional sessions. He also advises others, because he takes on a leadership role. He's also discovering himself as a person.
"He's already in the France team, but I'm convinced that he'll have a very big career. But there must still be a little bit in Nice to go to continue his progress."
The fact that Nice are owned by Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is one of the frontrunners to buy Manchester United, could further complicate matters. If his bid the United is successful, it is extremely unlikely he will sanction a move that would strengthen a rival.
