Transfer Centre

Ibrahima Konate urges Khephren Thuram to join Liverpool

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 13 June 2023

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate claims that he would be "very happy" to see Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram join the Reds this summer.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has claimed that he would be "very happy" to see Khephren Thuram sign for the Reds in the current transfer window.

The Nice midfielder is believed to be a prime target for Jurgen Klopp's side in the wake of another strong season with Les Aiglons domestically and continentally.

Thuram ended the 2022-23 campaign with two goals and eight assists from 48 games in a Nice jersey, helping his side reach the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.

The 22-year-old now has eight goals and 11 assists to show from 31 games in Nice colours since departing Monaco in 2019, but his contract only has two more years left to run.

Liverpool are already said to have agreed personal terms with Thuram and are now preparing to discuss a fee with Nice, who may entertain offers around the £38.5m mark.

Ibrahima Konate in action for France on December 14, 2022 © Reuters

The midfielder - who is the son of Lilian Thuram and the brother of Borussia Monchengladbach's Marcus Thuram - has one cap to his name at senior level for France, but he will instead compete at the Under-21 European Championships this summer.

Nevertheless, Konate has affirmed that he has been left impressed with what he has seen from Thuram so far and would be delighted to have the 22-year-old join him at Anfield.

"Khephren, he's like a younger brother, he's someone I saw grow (...) I was with his older brother at academy level. I saw him perform well and progress greatly... it was incredible," Konate told RMC.

"Even when he came to join the French national team for his first cap. I saw him in training and I was really surprised by his height and his technical ability.

"I would be very happy to see him join Liverpool, I would take him under my wing and I will do everything to help him progress. Now it's his turn to work. But I'll do everything for him to become a top player."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reacts on May 6, 2023 © Reuters

Liverpool could reportedly have to fend off interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and Manchester City to land Thuram this summer, while Paris Saint-Germain apparently failed with a bid for the midfielder in the past.

Reds boss Klopp is thought to be after at least three new players to bolster his engine room this summer, having lost Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Juventus loanee Arthur.

The Merseyside giants have already struck a £35m deal to sign Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister, who will become Liverpool's new number 10 on a five-year contract.

Monchengladbach's Manu Kone - Thuram's teammate in France's Under-21s - is also thought to be on Liverpool's wishlist, and talks are supposedly scheduled with the 22-year-old's representatives.