France U21 manager Sylvain Ripoll has hailed Liverpool target Khephren Thuram for his role in their 2-1 win over Italy.
Les Bleuets got off to the perfect start as they look to win the European U21 Championships for the first time since 1988. Their curtain raiser finished 2-1 thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo and Bradley Barcola with Pietro Pellegri equalising for the Italians before the break.
And Ripoll's side were forced to manage with a man light following the red card for Loic Bade with seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Liverpool fans have their sights firmly fixed on the tournament in Georgia and Romania this summer as a host of their targets feature for their respective nations vying to be crowned champions of Europe. Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone was previously linked with the Reds while Ryan Gravenberch and Gabri Veiga of Holland and Spain are both targets.
READ MORE: FSG promise kept after major Anfield news confirmed and Gabriel Veiga
READ MORE: Liverpool defender explains emotional decision to leave after 13 years
The 22-year-old Thuram has been earmarked as one of the main targets after the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion.
On Thursday night, he returned to the pitch for the first time after missing OGC Nice's run in through injury. Although he has missed matches for his club in Ligue 1 because of the problem, he managed 65 minutes before being replaced and still received rave reviews from Ripoll.
"Khephren brings us despite everything his leadership and his ability to keep the ball," he said via L'Equipe. "You can't ask him for the impossible. He hadn't played for almost five weeks.
"He made the effort and we organised ourselves so that he could participate in part of the match because he is a very important boy in our group. I didn't expect him to be flamboyant, especially physically."
