Liverpool’s New Sporting Director Initiates Negotiations for First Summer Transfer, Wasting No Time
Liverpool are planning a summer deal to recruit French midfielder Khephren Thuram as Jurgen Klopp looks to boost his team ahead of the start of the 2023/24 season.
When the transfer market reopens, Jurgen Klopp plans to bolster his midfield department, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita all due to leave the club at the end of June. Arthur will also return to Juventus when his dismal season-long loan stay concludes.
Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, on the other hand, are moving quickly to secure their top objectives. After the resignation of Julian Ward, Liverpool revealed the appointment of German Schmadtke on Tuesday morning, and his mission is to ensure the Reds get their recruitment right in the short term.
Liverpool are now attempting to sign Nice star Thuram, according to L’Equipe. This season, the 22-year-old has shone in the middle of the park for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Nice, making 48 appearances and scoring twice. Thuram, the son of France icon Lillian and brother of another Liverpool target Marcus, is a dangerous midfielder who can play from box to box.
The Italian-born midfielder began his career with Monaco before joining Nice in 2019. Thuram has now become a fan favorite at the southern French club, appearing more than 100 times in the last four seasons. However, the 2022/23 season was by far his most successful.
Thuram was named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Although Nice have had a dismal season overall, Thuram has been a shining light in the division’s second-best defensive unit – yet he is garnering interest from other clubs.
A meeting has already taken place between representatives from Liverpool and Thuram. The player is said to want to play for Klopp and work for the Reds next season. Given Liverpool’s current state, he would provide much-needed presence and energy in midfield.
Liverpool’s current first-team midfielders are Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, and Curtis Jones, and Klopp must strengthen this summer. Among those connected with a move to Anfield are Bruno Guimaraes, Youri Tielemans, and Manu Kone.
Schmadtke joins on Merseyside on a short-term contract and admits that his remit is very much a Klopp-down approach. “The input of the coach in transfers is greater in England than in Germany, where a sports board or a sports director holds everything in one hand,” he said of his new post. Klopp establishes the priorities.”
“We then work with data analysts and scouts, he will then choose from a list of players who he’d like to work with. After that, I will approach the targets and clubs. And in the end, the owners must also be satisfied with the investments.
“I’ll start on 1 June. If we like each other, the cooperation can go beyond the transfer window. Let’s see. Then we will continue this or not.”
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