Top Liverpool transfer target now ‘shadow of his former self’ after rejecting Anfield move

The summer transfer target for Liverpool, who turned down a move to Anfield, has been called a “shadow of his former self.”

Liverpool overhauled their midfield last summer, bringing in four new stars and firing several others.

After spending a total of more than £140 million, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch were added, helping Jurgen Klopp’s team climb to the top of the Premier League standings.

Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo were among the targets that Liverpool failed to secure.

Since choosing to sign with Chelsea instead, both have suffered; it’s a similar tale involving a different well-known person.

Kephren Thuram, the son of the legendary Lilian Thuram of France and brother of Inter Milan star Marcus Thuram, was strongly linked to Liverpool throughout the summer.

The Nice midfielder did, however, disclose that he made the decision to remain at the Ligue 1 team when a deal fell through.

“Regarding what happened in the transfer window, I decided to stay,” he said in November.

“I wanted to continue to progress at Nice, and progress as a player at this club.

“Honestly, it made me happy to be linked to all these clubs left, right and center. It shows I’m doing the right things but as I said, I knew I wanted to stay here.”

But ever since he made that choice, Thuram has had form issues at Nice.

Journalist Luke Entwistle of Get French Football News and The Guardian reported that Thuram has had difficulty adjusting to boss Francesco Farioli’s tactical philosophy.

The defensive strategy used by the Italian coach, who took over as head coach from Didier Digard in the summer, hasn’t worked well for the box-to-box midfield player.

Entwistle stated: “Often found lurking in the block shadow in recent games, Thuram is a shadow of his former self.”

Dante, the pleasant captain, has also observed the 22-year-old’s difficulties.

The former Bayern Munich defender remarked, “We’re so used to him playing fantastic matches that when he is a step below, we see it.”

Thuram’s spot in Didier Deschamps’ squad for the 2018 European Championships is in jeopardy since he has fallen down the French national team’s hierarchy as a result.