Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool reportedly all had scouts in attendance to watch Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Feyenoord.
The Nerazzurri have one foot firmly in the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition thanks to a 2-0 victory over the Dutch giants, where Thuram netted the opener before his strike partner Lautaro Martinez sealed the deal.
The Frenchman's effort at De Kuip marked his 15th of the season across all competitions, as he has also struck 13 times in 27 Serie A matches in 2024-25, in addition to providing four assists.
Thuram has now hit the 15-goal mark in both of his seasons as Inter, having also netted that exact number in his debut campaign last year following his arrival on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The 27-year-old's rise to prominence has naturally alerted some of Europe's biggest teams, as TBR Football claims that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool deployed scouts to run the rule over him last week.
Inter to ward off Thuram interest with new contract?
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Thuram's existing contract with Inter Milan runs until the summer of 2028, but the report adds that his terms include a buyout clause of £70m, a reasonable fee for any of his three suitors.
However, the Nerazzurri reportedly want to start talks with the striker's representatives over a new deal, which could see his release clause either increased or removed entirely.
Arsenal apparently wanted to sign Thuram when Unai Emery was in charge in the summer of 2019, but a move for the then-Guingamp attacker fell through as he joined Monchengladbach instead.
While Thuram was plying his trade in Germany, he received extremely high praise from former Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger, who likened him to all-time Gunners top scorer Thierry Henry.
"Thierry Henry had the timing of the smartest footballers. He was also very strong physically, and technically he could do everything. In fact, there's a player in the Bundesliga who reminds me of him – Marcus Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach," Wenger told Der Spiegel.
Thuram is the son of legendary France defender Lilian Thuram and the brother of Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram, who was also tipped to sign for Liverpool during his days at Nice.
Arsenal facing transfer dilemma between Inter strikers?
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As well as running the rule over Thuram, it has been reported that Arsenal are planning to hold preliminary talks over a deal for his attacking partner in crime Martinez, with the blessing of Andrea Berta.
Berta is understood to have agreed a deal with Arsenal to become their new sporting director, and the former Atletico Madrid chief is apparently a huge fan of the Argentine Martinez.
However, Arsenal will certainly not be able to afford both Thuram and Martinez in the same window while they also pursue new faces in midfield and in goal, nor will Inter consider letting both go.
Alternatively, the Gunners could abandon their Inter transfer mission entirely and put their eggs in the Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko basket, but the pressure could hardly be weighing heavier on Berta's shoulders as Gooners wait patiently for that new big-money number nine.
Ben Knapton
