Man Utd and Liverpool's Thuram bonus

16 Nov 2023 09:35 GMT
9 min read

Nice's Khephren Thuram is wanted by Man Utd and Liverpool — © ProShots

Khephren Thuram has been called up to the France squad to face Gibraltar and Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying as a replacement for Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga.

Thuram’s presence with Les Bleus will give Premier League managers such as Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp additional reason to follow the progress of the World Cup runners-up given that both clubs have been closely linked with a move for the Nice youngster in recent months.

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The 22-year-old already has one cap for France, which he won in a 4-0 win over the Netherlands.

Camavinga drops out because of a knee injury picked up in a challenge with Ousmane Dembele in training on Wednesday, posing an injury problem for Los Blancos.

Thuram, meanwhile, joins a France squad that already includes his brother Marcus, who plays for Inter Milan as a striker, as well as Warren Zaire-Emery, who is expected to become France’s youngest player since the First World War in the days ahead. PSG midfielder Zaire-Emery, 17, is expected to beat Camavinga’s record.

For Thuram, the national team call up caps a very positive start to the season from a personal and team perspective.

His Nice side are undefeated in Ligue 1 and lie second in the table behind PSG, while he has been a central figure in their charge up the table.

It made me happy to be linked to all these clubs left, right and centre

- Khephren Thuram

"I think I’ve started the season well. The team has of course had a very good start to the season. I have developed aspects of my game. Regarding what happened in the transfer window, I decided to stay," he told the media last week.

“I wanted to continue to progress at Nice and progress as a player at this club. Honestly, it made me happy to be linked to all these clubs left, right and centre. It shows I’m doing the right things but as I said, I knew I wanted to stay here."

Thuram vs Ligue 1 midfielders: 2023/24

Liverpool or Man Utd to land Thuram?

Liverpool were hotly linked with an interest in him during the summer months, but the imminent arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as minority owner at Man Utd has seen the Old Trafford club increasingly linked with the former Monaco youngster.

The Red Devils have also made Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo their primary target for the January transfer window, as confirmed by FootballTransfers, with the 23-year-old also involved in the France squad for these upcoming qualifiers.

France have already qualified for Germany as winners of Group B winners.