Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus are reportedly among the clubs preparing to battle Liverpool for the signature of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.
The 22-year-old has quickly become one of the most sought-after prospects in Ligue 1 and was tipped to leave the Allianz Riviera during the most recent transfer window.
Liverpool were persistently linked with a move for Thuram as part of their midfield rebuild, and they were rumoured to have agreed personal terms with the midfielder.
However, the Reds captured Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister instead, and Thuram stayed put in France to continue his development.
Since the summer transfer window slammed shut, Thuram has started four of Nice's five Ligue 1 matches so far this term, helping his side to an unbeaten start to the new campaign.
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The 6ft 3in lynchpin also made his senior debut for France in a Euro 2024 qualifying win over the Netherlands in March, but he was unavailable for September's fixtures due to a thigh injury.
While Nice are determined to keep hold of their protege, his contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, and there is a consensus that the much-coveted midfielder will depart in the near future.
According to 90min, Liverpool retain an interest in the France international, but they are now facing added competition from several clubs, including Premier League rivals Spurs.
In addition, all of Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been casting an eye on Thuram's early-season displays with a view to a possible transfer in 2024.
Despite adding four new midfielders to their ranks this summer, Liverpool have supposedly asked to be kept informed of any developments over Thuram's future, as the Reds will likely lose Thiago Alcantara when his deal expires next year.
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However, Liverpool and Spurs are already said to be behind Juventus in the race to sign Thuram, whom the Old Lady view as an ideal successor to Paul Pogba amid the Frenchman's doping charge.
Tests taken after Juve's win over Udinese on August 20 revealed abnormally high levels of testosterone, and Pogba has been provisionally suspended, but the former Manchester United man reportedly requested a counter-analysis earlier this month.
Should Pogba be found guilty of the doping offence, though, he could be facing a ban of up to four years, which would likely signal the end of the 30-year-old's disastrous second spell in Turin.
Furthermore, Thuram's father Lilian Thuram is supposedly keen to see his son play for the club he represented between 2001 and 2006, while his sibling Marcus Thuram already plays in Italy for Inter Milan.
Nice acquired Thuram on a free transfer from Monaco in 2019, and the midfielder has eight goals and 11 assists under his belt from 142 matches for Les Aiglons.
Ben Knapton
