Khephren Thuram's under-21 European Championships dream came to a crushing end on Sunday as Ukraine ran out 3-1 winners to reach the semi-finals.
Liverpool are interested in the OGC Nice midfielder as their attention now turns to their third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who was announced on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp is keen to construct an overhaul at Anfield following their disappointing campaign as well as the changes to the department. There were three departures in the area, effective from the beginning of July, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner saw out their Reds contracts.
Ryan Gravenberch, Romeo Lavia, Gabri Veiga and Manu Kone are all among the other possible midfield targets on the shortlist of Liverpool chiefs.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher has already told Jurgen Klopp his next Liverpool signing after Dominik Szoboszlai
Going into the tournament in Romania and Georgia, the focus was firmly fixed on the potential additions for their respective nations that could be among Klopp's options. For Thuram in particular, the end of his season with the Ligue 1 side was curtailed following a thigh injury that ruled him out of their final three league matches.
The 22-year-old played in three out of the four matches at the Euros but he has come under fire from France news outlet L'Equipe in light of their exit.
They've ran a story which is headlined: "Khephren Thuram, symbole de l'échec des Bleuets à l'Euro Espoirs," which translates to 'Khephren Thuram, symbol of the failure of Blueberries at Euro Espoirs'.
With their pursuit of European Championships glory over, it means the season for the France youngster also draws to a close, the outlet add: "This defeat marks for him the end of a season surely too physically trying."
In their report, L'Equipe wrote: "Accustomed to touching the ball regularly, to breaking the lines with his passes, to gaining ground with his breakthroughs, the Niçois showed none of that.
"A lack of involvement in the construction of the game and in the recovery which weakened the Bleuets. The 42 small balls he touched say everything about his low impact on the game.
"At his side, Maxence Caqueret (97 balls) and Enzo Le Fée (83) were much more active. It must be said that Thuram was playing the 58th game of a season that he finished exhausted.
"But it is necessarily a disappointment for the only player in the group who has known the upper level (1 selection) and who has been left at the disposal of the category for the Euro."
Following their group opener win over Italy, Sylvain Ripoll described the France midfielder as one of the driving forces behind his team.
He said: "Khephren brings us despite everything his leadership and his ability to keep the ball. You cannot ask him for the impossible. He hadn't played for almost five weeks. I didn't expect him to be flamboyant, especially physically."
However, the U21s boss conceded that while he tried his best, it was a difficult competition to return to.
Speaking after the defeat he said: "I don't have the feeling that he missed his Euro. He did his best to be there with us when he had an injury with Nice.
"He had a very good hour against Switzerland. It was difficult for him to start a big competition like that in an uncomfortable situation. It is above all a collective failure."
The outlet conclude its report by noting the response from Liverpool fans, seen as good news, but said he will have to rest before returning to action. The Reds are due to report back for pre-season within the next week.
