Liverpool have what Arsenal failed to do to prevent a repeat of a £72m transfer mistake.
Liverpool were reportedly beaten by Arsenal by signing Nicolas Pepe for £72m in 2019.
Nicolas Pepe has struggled during his time at Arsenal after making the £72million move
Khephren Thuram could become the 19th French player to sign for Liverpool if the Reds sign him from OGC Nice.
While there is a lot of buzz surrounding the 22-year-old, the young Frenchman is playing in the European Championships in Georgia and Romania.
Les Bleus have not been crowned best team in Europe at that level since 1988 with the likes of Laurent Blanc and Eric Cantona in the squad, and Thuram will be hoping to match the former Manchester United duo this summer. Whether he emerges victorious or not, many see Thuram as one of the key arrivals this summer, alongside new signing Alexis Mac Allister on Merseyside.
Liverpool are set to renew the mid-table after a number of factors contributed to last season’s problems. Many have pointed to the lack of signings or the aging players currently occupying positions in the engine room. With three of their options now eliminated as free agents, a change is afoot, with Thuram expected to be one of the players to live up to that bill.
Should the transfer go through, it would be the last major transfer from Ligue 1 to the Premier League. Thuram’s cost could be around £40m, a far cry from the £100m that overburdened Jude Bellingham – who was heavily expected to join Liverpool before joining Real Madrid. Price tags often prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations, but when they do occur, they can sometimes prove to be a burden on players. Many have pointed the finger at Darwin Nunez – who could cost up to £85m – and his performance in his first season following a transfer from Benfica.
Just four years ago, Arsenal broke their transfer fee record after winning the race to sign Ivory Coast striker Nicolas Pepe. The striker, who is also heavily linked with Liverpool, joined London from Lille for a fee of £72m. Three years later, he returned to the French top flight with Nice on loan after falling out of favor with Mikel Arteta. He played over 100 games for the Gunners, scoring just 27 times and providing 21 assists during his time in north London.
His best season came during the 2020/21 season when he scored 10 goals in 29 Premier League appearances. He continued last season with just one goal in 20.
The inconsistency he experienced during his time at Arsenal immediately aroused suspicion as he attempted to live up to the high price tag that had lured him away from northern France. A number of factors are believed to have contributed to his struggles in the English top flight. His time in the capital has seen many changes from his arrival under Unai Emery in 2019 until his departure under Arteta in 2022.
In addition, hierarchical reorganizations took place in London Colney, which led to the rapid departures of Raul Sanllehi and Huss Fahmy, the chief negotiator of the agreement. Ex-midfielder Edu took on the role of technical director and appointed the Spaniard to introduce the club’s new philosophy.
For Thuram, he would arrive in a system that matches his preferences and makes the most of the midfield. Not to mention the influence of Konate, who previously described him as a little brother, could play a key role in convincing him of the switch and help him get used to the ways of Jurgen Klopp.
Traditionally, the Reds have not been sucked into the trials and tribulations of the transfer market, where they find themselves embroiled in a bidding war for their goals. With Nicolo Barella attached, it appears his £80m price tag will be too much for the chefs at Anfield to pay.
The recent transfer windows have helped the transfer market explode, especially for midfielders. Manchester United stole the march on Liverpool to sign Mason Mount but fell significantly short of the £70m valuation despite two offers. The aforementioned Inter Milan midfielder would be one of the record transfers in the Premier League if he arrives for that fee, with Newcastle United reportedly approaching Sandro Tonali for around £60m.
With the reported £40m fee in mind, it would see Liverpool continue their shrewd business in the transfer market and strike positively against their rivals, namely Arsenal, who have beaten their record transfer fee to bring Pepe from France to win only the Ivorian to see. leave branded as a ‘flop’.
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