Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate says that he hopes OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram makes a switch to Anfield this summer.
The France U21 midfielder is currently preparing for Les Bleus campaign in the European Championships this summer as they look to be crowned champions of the continent in Georgia and Romania. Thuram has become increasingly linked with a move to Merseyside in recent weeks as he has now been earmarked as a target for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Any prospective transfer would not go through until July 1, when the international window opens, but the Reds are looking to bolster their engine room with the midfielder under consideration. Already Alexis Mac Allister has penned terms with Liverpool as the first jigsaw in the puzzle of the midfield overhaul.
Following on from his comments about his "little brother", the 24-year-old has added fuel to the fire that is the speculation surrounding his fellow Frenchman.
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In a quickfire 'Yes or No' with the broadcaster Telefoot, Konate alongside Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano was asked if Thuram will be playing alongside him at Anfield this season.
"Yes, I hope so," he replied.
He is currently with Didier Deschamps' senior squad as their European Championships qualification continues. They beat Gibraltar on Friday and host Greece in the France capital on Monday.
Despite being away from duty with Klopp's squad, Konate has been vocal in the transfer plans on Merseyside this summer and in particular over the prospect of earning a French teammate at club level.
Speaking to RMC Sport, he said: "I would be very happy for him [Thuram] to come to Liverpool and I would take him under my wing and I would do everything for him to progress and become the player he wants to become."
"Khephren is like my little brother, he's someone I saw growing up. I was with his big brother in the training centre, but I saw him grow. I saw him perform and progress at a level... It was incredible. Even when he came to the France team for his first selection. I saw him at the training and I was really surprised by his size and his technical ease.
"When I was in Leipzig and I signed for Liverpool, many people said that it was too early, that it was not the right choice. In the end, I proved all these people wrong so you shouldn't listen to people. If Khephren has the opportunity to come to a club like Liverpool, I think he will be surprised the enthusiasm that will come behind him.
"It's up to him to work. He's still very young but he has an incredible margin for improvement so I'm confident."
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