Liverpool have reportedly been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Khephren Thuram this summer, with Nice now wishing to keep the player for another season.
The 22-year-old featured in 35 Ligue 1 matches for Le Gym last campaign, scoring two goals and providing six assists from a central-midfield position.
Having last played club football on May 13 during Nice's 2-0 loss at Strasbourg, Thuram is currently on international duty with France Under-21s as they aim to lift the European Championship trophy at that particular age group.
Sylvain Ripoll's men started their Group D campaign with maximum points against Italy on Thursday - a game in which Thuram played 65 minutes before being replaced by Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki.
According to the Daily Mail, Nice want to keep Thuram at the club for another season, with that decision potentially having massive ramifications for Liverpool's transfer window.
Despite the capture of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month, Jurgen Klopp is still keen on strengthening his team's engine room ahead of next season.
A host of midfielders have departed Liverpool including Naby Keita and veteran James Milner, with the 37-year-old moving down to the Amex as the Seagulls look to be successful in the Europa League next term under Roberto De Zerbi.
It is understood that Thuram is not the Merseyside club's sole midfield target, with the Reds reportedly tabling a £47m bid for Real Madrid youngster Aurelien Tchouameni, although Los Blancos are expected to only let the Frenchman leave for closer to £68m.
The report adds that the Nice midfielder will not make a decision on his future until after the conclusion of his international duty with France this summer, meaning Liverpool could have to wait until the middle of July before knowing if the player is open to a move to Anfield.
Liverpool are also said to be interested in making Romeo Lavia the next player to walk the well-trodden path from Southampton to Merseyside, with Klopp's men considering whether to join Arsenal in the race for the Belgium international.
The 19-year-old caught the eye for the Saints during his maiden season as a regular starter in the Premier League, although his encouraging displays were unable to prevent the South Coast club from being relegated to the Championship.
Thuram is certainly the more experienced midfielder when compared to Lavia, with the Frenchman having featured 138 times for Nice since joining from Monaco on a free transfer in the summer of 2019.
A one-minute cameo against the Netherlands is the player's only appearance for France's senior side, however a move to the Premier League could increase his chances of being a regular in Didier Deschamps's squad sooner rather than later. body check tags ::
