Contact made: Man Utd move to sign “fantastic” new star ahead of Liverpool; Ratcliffe knows him

After a disheartening 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League at Old Trafford, followed by a Champions League exit, Manchester United is eagerly awaiting the arrival of January.

The team, once on the rise with top-four qualification and Carabao Cup glory, now finds itself in a downward spiral, and manager Erik ten Hag is urgently seeking solutions.

With a daunting trip to Anfield to face Premier League leaders Liverpool looming, the challenges for United could intensify.

As the January transfer window approaches, Manchester United is looking to make a move that could give them an edge over their rivals.

The club has reportedly reached out to the representatives of Khephren Thuram and OGC Nice for a potential deal.

Thuram, a French midfielder, has garnered interest from various clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom have also made contact in pursuit of his signature.

While United faces tough competition from fellow English sides, the 22-year-old has ties to likely new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe through Nice, a club Ratcliffe has owned since 2019.

If Manchester United secures Thuram, they could experience an immediate upgrade, potentially surpassing the contributions of Scott McTominay—a crucial shift for Ten Hag.

Despite scoring fewer goals than McTominay, Thuram excels in several other essential areas, making him a standout prospect for the Red Devils.

The praise for Thuram extends to his exemplary work ethic and leadership qualities, as highlighted by former manager Didier Digard:

“Khephren’s fantastic. He is very hardworking, very attentive. On rest days he’s at the training centre.

He recovers quickly for back-to-back matches and completes high-intensity training. He listens and applies himself. He has room for improvement and he’s in demand.

He simply eats up video analysis, additional sessions. He also advises others because he takes on a leadership role. He’s also discovering himself as a person.”

As Manchester United grapples with ongoing challenges, the potential addition of Thuram could prove crucial for Ten Hag’s efforts to turn the team’s fortunes around.

The upcoming January transfer window is set to be intriguing, with this contact-initiated deal becoming one to closely monitor.