Liverpool to reignite move for £44m Klopp target

The summer transfer window still hasn’t officially opened, but Liverpool aren’t pulling any punches as they push to strengthen Andoni Iraola’s squad.

The emergent Yan Diomande has been tagged as FSG’s top target, but with RB Leipzig pushing for a nine-digit figure amid rival interest from Paris Saint-Germain, it should go without saying that nothing is certain with this one.

Iraola, 43, is one of the most exciting young managers in the world, and across three campaigns with Bournemouth, showcased skill, style and substance. More importantly, perhaps, he demonstrated durability, somehow going from strength to strength despite losing key personnel each year.

Iraola’s tactical vision will not be realised without much-improved stamina levels. A rip-roaring winger such as Diomande can help with that, but Liverpool’s midfield formed the epicentre of their crisis under Arne Slot, and FSG do no plan to neglect the Anfield engine room.

Liverpool learn conditions for former top target

Iraola’s football is aggressive, employing verticality in possession, which basically means they get on the front foot and look to break defensive lines with incisive and snappy passing.

Fitness levels need to be maintained at a high level, and because of that, Liverpool need to ring the changes in midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister unable to cope with the pressure and intensity of the Premier League this season.

Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed that several European outfits are considering the 27-year-old, hitherto one of the Premier League’s best midfielders. If Liverpool do sell, they will certainly need to land themselves a fitting upgrade, someone who will embrace Iraola’s high-octane approach.

According to Tutto Juve, that man could be Juventus’ Khephren Thuram, one of Liverpool’s top targets when Jurgen Klopp rebuilt his ageing engine room in 2023 – Mac Allister formed one part of that remake.

Thuram, 25, is physical and technical, embodying the principles Iraola covets in his centre-midfielders. Manchester United and Galatasaray are also keen, and while Juve don’t want to sell, they failed to qualify for the Champions League, and thus would entertain negotiations starting at around €50m (£43m).

Why Thuram is better than Mac Allister

Mac Allister has been a stalwart for Liverpool over the past three years, but we cannot ignore the Argentina international’s staggering decline this season, impeding the Reds in their hopes of retaining their Premier League title.

FSG need to weigh up the risks of keeping the faith. Mac Allister, furthermore, only has two years left on his contract, so selling him now could mark good business.

Especially if Thuram is welcomed to Anfield as his replacement. The France international was described as a “one-man army” in midfield by talent scout Jacek Kulig during his days with OGC Nice, and now, at Juventus, the same praise applies, Thuram winning the ball in the middle of the pitch and willing it into something tangible in the final third.

In that, surely, Liverpool would land themselves an upgrade on Mac Allister, whose pace and physicality has deserted him. He rarely made forward runs across Slot’s second season, regressing across almost every metric that made him one of the Premier League’s finest during that title-winning 2024/25 campaign.

In truth, the two midfielders share a number of properties. Both bring a blend of creative and combative skills to the table, and both midfielders are intelligent in their distribution, picking the right passes and releasing the ball at the right time.

In Serie A, Thuram is one of the most progressive midfielders around, and there lies the key point of difference as Liverpool look to get themselves up and running at the start of a new era.

Thuram could be the catalyst for a Liverpool side who need to make a number of changes this summer. The likes of Diomande will mark a significant outlay, and another forward plus one or two full-backs may yet be on sporting director Richard Hughes’ agenda too.

Affordable and with elite potential, Thuram may prove a hit for Liverpool, who are making their move three years on from their initial enquires.