Liverpool have identified Khéphren Thuram as a possible Curtis Jones replacement, but Manchester United are also monitoring the Juventus midfielder. The price matters too. Juventus would consider selling Thuram for about €45-50 million, which keeps this firmly in the live-deal category rather than a speculative link.

Why Liverpool are looking at Thuram

The Jones situation is the trigger. Inter have reportedly offered around €25m for Curtis Jones, while Liverpool are holding out for €30m. John Barnes has also argued Jones has to decide whether he wants to stay as squad depth or move somewhere he can play every week.

That leaves Liverpool with a profile to chase, not just a name. Thuram is 25 and can operate as a deep-lying number six or box-to-box number eight, which makes him a flexible option if Jones does go. His recent numbers at 1899 Hoffenheim are also useful shorthand for why he is being watched: an 8.3 rating in his last five Bundesliga games, plus two goals and one assist in that same spell.

Why Manchester United are still in the picture

United are not just hovering in the background. The club are monitoring Thuram alongside Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes, which suggests the midfield search is still wide open even if the names keep changing from report to report. That is the important part here, United are clearly shopping in the same bracket as Liverpool.

Juventus also have a reason to listen. They need roughly €55 million in sales before the end of June to offset missing out on Champions League football, and their willingness to discuss Thuram at €45-50 million fits that pressure. Thuram has already turned down approaches from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, so this is not a player who looks desperate to move, but the fee is realistic enough to keep the door open.

The clean read is that Liverpool have the more obvious squad need, but United’s interest stops this being a one-club story. If Liverpool push on Jones and Juventus stay at their range, Thuram becomes one of the more straightforward midfield battles of the summer.

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