Khephren Thuram: Why Liverpool and Europe's biggest clubs are fighting to sign France's young midfield star

He may only be 22, but Thuram has already seen plenty of the world. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy, while his father was playing in Serie A for Parma. Later, he lived in Turin and Barcelona, before the family returned to France once Lilian had finished his career.

Both Marcus and Khephren, who are separated by three years, were educated in Paris at an American school - hence their perfect English - and both trod the same footballing path. Both played for the same junior club, Olympique de Neuilly, and both eventually graduated to the youth ranks at AC Boulogne-Billancourt, a club located in the Parisian suburbs which is famous for producing Olympians and world champions in cycling, swimming and various other sports.

Marcus left Boulogne for Sochaux in 2012, while Khephren chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and join Monaco four years later, aged 15.

It didn’t take long for Thuram to make his mark at Monaco. Having impressed at youth level, he was handed his professional debut, aged 17, in a Champions League game away to Atletico Madrid in November 2018. He played half an hour as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat, in a team which included the likes of Radamel Falcao, Youri Tielemans and Benoit Badiashile.

There would be two more further sub appearances that season, against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and at Guingamp in the French League Cup, but his most eye-catching moment came in the UEFA Youth League when he scored a fantastic long-range strike against a Chelsea side which featured the likes of Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Tariq Lamptey and Marc Guehi.

Unsurprisingly, he was soon being linked with top clubs - Chelsea included - but to many people’s surprise, he chose to join Nice in the summer of 2019, and in August of that year he made his Ligue 1 debut against Nimes, the first of 16 competitive appearances that season.

Thuram settled in well at Nice, following up a solid first campaign with an even better second one, as he made 33 appearances in all competitions and earned his first call-up to the French Under-21 squad.

The following season, 2021-22, he won the club’s Young Player of the Year award and was nominated as one of the best prospects in Ligue 1 at the Trophees UNFP awards, France’s version of the PFA awards.

In the season just gone, Thuram has continued his progress. He played 47 times for Nice, and in March made his senior international debut for France, appearing as a late substitute in their European Championship qualifying win over the Netherlands.

The first thing that stands out about Thuram is his size. At 6'4, he is a midfielder of considerable physical presence, and one who as a result is extremely strong in one-v-one duels.

Style-wise, he is something of an all-rounder, though he shows up better in the defensive metrics - blocks, tackles, interceptions - than in the offensive ones - chances created, shots. He is known as a player who can both win the ball and use it, and who is particularly good at pressing,.

Didier Digard, Thuram’s coach at Nice, is a huge fan, in particular emphasising the youngster’s mindset and mentality. "Khephren's fantastic," Digard told RMC Sport earlier this year. "He is very hardworking, very attentive. On rest days he's at the training centre. He recovers quickly for back-to-back matches and completes high-intensity training.

“He listens and applies himself. He has room for improvement and he's in demand. He simply eats up video analysis, additional sessions. He also advises others, because he takes on a leadership role. He's also discovering himself as a person.”

Not surprisingly given his family background, Thuram appears to possess an inner confidence which convinces of his desire and ability to reach the top level. His school in Paris, he says, taught him “not to be scared of being good,” and the competitive nature of his upbringing means there is no fear of taking on new challenges.

Like all players, there are elements of Thuram’s game which can be, and need to be, worked on. Getting used to seeing more of the ball in games, for example, would be helpful. Thuram has averaged around 40 successful passes per game for Nice this season, roughly half of what a midfielder in a top-level side would expect to get through.

Experience will help smooth off some of the rough edges, both in and out of possession. There can be a rather hurried element to some of his play presently, as he either chases down opponents or moves the ball on quickly. His aggression can be a strength, but knowing where and when to utilise it will be key going forward.

It is known that the player Thuram most admires in the modern game is Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City and Belgium star. “He is the best in his position, he is incredible,” Thuram has said, while Nice team-mate Aaron Ramsey has also earned big praise from the the 22-year-old.

A keen student, Thuram is known to have been shown video clips of the likes of Paul Pogba, Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira, tall, technically-accomplished midfielders who were able to perform all facets of the game.

Vieira, in particular, could be a good example to follow, and not only because he was a big friend of Thuram’s father. The France legend’s ability to use his frame not only to win the ball, but to protect it and to carry it forwards, was almost unique among midfielders in the late-1990s and early-2000s, and Thuram’s general play certainly bears some similarities with Vieira’s, even if his disciplinary record is a little better.

Certainly, Thuram’s performances for Nice are attracting plenty of attention. Liverpool are among the clubs to have watched him, and there have been renewed links with the Reds over in France recently. Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain have also been touted as potential suitors, and with suggestions that the latter are looking to concentrate their attention on young, French stars, then it would be no surprise if they were to come calling.

“I hear the links, but don’t concentrate on it,” Thuram said back in March, but there is a growing expectation that, like brother Marcus, he will be moving clubs this summer. Whoever gets him is getting a player of considerable talent, and even bigger potential.

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