Top Jurgen Klopp target compared to Patrick Vieira as Liverpool ‘close in’ on transfer ‘agreement’ | OneFootball

Khephren Thuram during a France Under-21s match.

Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda thinks Liverpool target Khephren Thuram is a similar player to Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.

Thuram is one of the Reds’ top transfer targets as Jurgen Klopp looks to reinvent his midfield.

Klopp has already brought in Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and is expected to sign one or two more midfielders.

RB Leipzig playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai has now emerged as another player on Liverpool’s shortlist, while the Premier League club are also keeping tabs on Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone.

Thuram, meanwhile, is a fascinating player. A recent report from Football Insider claimed the Reds are ‘closing in’ on the signing of the 22-year-old Frenchman.

And the Nice midfielder’s compatriot Malouda sees a bit of Patrick Vieira in him, which is one of the biggest compliments a midfield player can receive.

“I know Khephren really well,” Malouda told Genting Casino. “I played with his father Lillian for France and his brother Marcus played at my former club, Guingamp.

“I’ve seen his game evolving. He has worked under Patrick Vieira, and I think that is a good comparison to make in terms of players that remind me of him. Khephren is tall, physically very strong and he has a lot of skill. He can sit in the midfield or play box-to-box.

“I think now is the right time to sign these players because their market value will increase. Khephren has received a few international call-ups with the main squad, so he will be thinking about the European Championships next season. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops in the European Under 21 Championship.

“He has a great mentality. With the family that he comes from, wow! This is greatness. His dad must be very, very proud to see both his sons playing with the national team and to be linked with some of the most important clubs in Europe.”

Malouda was also high in praise of Liverpool new boy Mac Allister, who is “a great choice” for the Anfield club.

“I think Mac Allister is ready to take the next the step in his development by playing for a big club like Liverpool,” he added. “After winning the World Cup with Argentina, where the pressure for his country to perform was so intense, especially after they lost the first game to Saudi Arabia, he looks like he is ready.

“When you win the World Cup, your mentality changes. You become a different player because more people expect you to lead, and you also develop a taste for winning trophies. When you experience lifting one, the hunger is there to do it as many times as possible.

“I think he is a great choice for Liverpool. Midfield was an area where they need to create competition and he will bring more confidence and stability to that area of the pitch. With the way that Liverpool play, I think he suits their system perfectly.

“I also think that by signing him so early shows you how important and integral he will be for them this season. I think he will be one of the cornerstones of a team that will be desperate to get closer to Manchester City next season.”