Liverpool and Thuram: How Man United could complicate things

Liverpool’s potential acquisition of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram could face obstacles due to the ongoing Manchester United takeover saga.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has identified the 22-year-old France international as a target to bolster his midfield, and preliminary talks have reportedly been initiated between Liverpool and Nice, as confirmed by Sky Sports.

In the near future, Thuram is set to represent France’s U21 side in the upcoming U21 European Championship. Interestingly, he will be joined in the squad by Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone, another player of interest for Liverpool.

Thuram, who joined Nice from Monaco in 2019, has been a consistent presence in Didier Digard’s team this season, featuring in 35 league games and contributing two goals along with four assists.

However, Liverpool’s pursuit of Thuram may encounter complications due to the club’s ownership situation. Nice is currently owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals company, INEOS.

Ratcliffe’s name has been linked to the Manchester United takeover discussions in recent months, as he aims to acquire a majority stake in the club from the Glazer family.

French outlet L’Equipe reports that Ratcliffe and INEOS’ involvement in the Manchester United takeover could have repercussions for Nice. Specifically, it suggests that the French club’s transfer budget could be impacted if Ratcliffe successfully secures a majority stake in United.

Consequently, Nice’s ability to conduct transfer business could be hindered, potentially benefiting Liverpool’s pursuit of Thuram.

The report emphasizes that Nice requires compensation and substantial investment to secure high-quality replacements, thereby increasing the possibility of Liverpool negotiating a lower transfer fee for Thuram.

Previous reports from L’Equipe via Liverpool Echo suggested that Nice values the midfielder at £51.4 million, but the financial strain caused by Ratcliffe’s involvement in the Manchester United takeover could prompt the French club to reconsider their asking price.

However, another complication arises from The Athletic’s sources, indicating that Ratcliffe has purportedly contemplated selling Nice if his bid for Manchester United proves successful.

This potential development might introduce delays to Liverpool’s pursuit of Thuram, as the player’s future could become entangled in the broader dynamics of Ratcliffe’s proposed takeover.

As the Manchester United takeover saga continues to unfold, the uncertainty surrounding the deal casts a shadow of doubt over Liverpool’s hopes of securing Khephren Thuram’s signature.

The outcome of these ongoing negotiations and their impact on Nice’s financial situation will determine whether the Reds can successfully navigate the complexities of this potential transfer.

In other related news, the buy out of Manchester United from the Glazer family has reportedly being agreed upon with Qatari businessman, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.