Yours for €60m: Richard Hughes wants deal for French midfielder | OneFootball

It looks like Richard Hughes is going to be in the market for new midfielders this summer.

We could see Curtis Jones depart from the squad with the England international out of contract in 2027 and no closer to signing a new deal. Wataru Endo may also be sold - given he too is out of contract next year.

Meanwhile Arne Slot is getting diminishing returns from some of his Premier League title-winning favourites. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch haven’t been as consistent this season as they were during the successes of 2024/25.

Accordingly there are several transfer options on the table for the Liverpool sporting director - including a player they could have signed three years ago.

Thuram back on the radar

Khephren Thuram, 25, was heavily linked with a move to Anfield before completing a deal to join Juventus in 2024.

The France international has gone from strength to strength for the Serie A side - who may be forced to sell key players this summer if they miss out on Champions League football.

Liverpool are now reportedly interested in a deal for Thuram - according to Calcio Mercato - and would have to pay around €60m for his services.

Thuram is under contract at Juve until 2029 and plans are in place to extend his deal to ward off suitors. His salary is being reported at €2m net per annum - a fee Liverpool could afford if they decided to make a move.

A pay rise to €4m net however may end up slapping a pair of golden handcuffs on the former Nice midfielder.

“From Manchester United to Liverpool, passing through Newcastle if the 'Magpies' were to part ways with Sandro Tonali at the end of the season,” the report says of interested clubs.

“Not to mention the interest of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter.

“Juventus are considering a contract extension beyond 2029, with a salary approaching € 4 million net per year, including fixed salary and bonuses—nearly double the €2 million he currently earns at the Turin club.”

Khephren Thuram: Situation summary

Khéphren Thuram is a 25-year-old French midfielder at Juventus, signed from Nice in July 2024 for around €20m on a five-year deal to June 2029.

Formed at Monaco and developed at Nice, he broke into the France senior side in 2023 and has since become a regular presence in Juve’s midfield rotation.

Thuram is a tall (around 1.92m), rangy box-to-box midfielder whose standout trait is ball-carrying through the thirds, gliding past opponents with long strides before finding a forward pass.

He offers defensive presence in transition, wins duels, and often provides the “pre-assist” by driving Juve up the pitch and releasing more advanced attackers.

After an up-and-down bedding-in year, he has settled in Turin and is widely viewed as a key piece of their medium-term core, with talks under way over an extension to 2030.