Liverpool are working on a deal to sign centre-midfielder Khephren Thuram behind the scenes, according to Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Thuram interest

It was reported by Talbot on Football Transfers that the Reds were interested in signing the 21-year-old midfielder in January but a mixture of an asking price of €30m (£26.3m) and Nice’s preference to a summer move meant it never came to fruition.

The article reports that he was valued closer to €15m (£13.2m) in the summer but given his Premier League interest.

The Latest: Talbot update

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Talbot delivered an update on the story he reported on throughout the transfer window last month and claimed that a deal is anything but dead, saying:

(12:34) “Thuram link is still there, obviously they didn't make a move in January, thought they had enough, we heard they're working behind the scenes with it still but obviously that was just more towards the summer window instead.”

The Verdict: Midfielders needed

Jurgen Klopp will certainly be expecting to strengthen his engine room with four first-team midfielders set to leave the club at the end of the season with their contracts entering the final months (Transfermarkt).

Liverpool’s priority target by no secret is Jude Bellingham (Sky Sports) and Thuram, who has been hailed as a 'beast', could be a smart signing alongside the 19-year-old given the turnover in the middle of the park expected and if a £26.2m tag is pursued, a reasonable price for a player in the current market.

He’d be a shrewd player to rejuvenate a weary looking midfield, with him in the top 6% of midfielders over the past year for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons (via FBref), making him an exciting option to add to Klopp’s midfield and make his engine room a scary prospect to deal with again.