Khéphren Thuram: Ligue 1 Player Watch

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Khéphren Thuram has a surname that many in football will recognise. The son of France legend Lilian and younger brother of Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker Marcus only turned 22 in March, but in four seasons with OGC Nice in the French top division he has established himself as a central midfielder of great potential.

Thuram was only 17 when making his professional debut off the bench in a Champions League game for Monaco away in the cauldron of Atlético Madrid in November 2018. He made the short hop to join Nice in the summer of 2019, and has since made more than 100 league appearances at the heart of the team’s midfield. His progress has been such that he made his international debut for France in a Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands two days before his 22nd birthday, as a late replacement for Adrien Rabiot in a commanding 4-0 win.

France are not short of talent in his position – the Real Madrid pair of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga spring to mind – but Thuram has time on his side. With more than one Premier League club reportedly keen on recruiting him this summer, he may soon have his opportunity to shine on a bigger stage. Here, we have analysed the qualities he would offer any team signing him.

Technical analysis

Thuram is a right-footed central midfielder who can operate either as a number eight or in a deeper, more defensive role. When he plays as a pivot – either single or as one of a two – he naturally spends more time occupying the central lane.

Despite being right-footed, Thuram has played a large part of his first-team career as a number eight operating in the left inside channel. From there, he looks to dribble forward and drive with the ball deep into the final third. He has a nice change of direction, but is at his best when driving forward with lengthy touches before dropping his shoulder to manoeuvre past an opponent (below).

He may stand at an imposing 6ft 4ins, but he has the ability to glide past opponents with the ball in a manner similar to that of Yaya Touré or Mousa Dembélé. When space is tight, he has the height and upper-body strength to protect the ball before rolling away from incoming pressure.

The final ball

As Thuram develops his game to get into more advanced areas and make more penetrative movements, he is adding more and better crosses to his game. Some of his other final-third distribution, particularly when connecting with runners in behind, could still improve, however. If he can deliver through balls with the weight, angle and timing to match the quality of his forward drives from midfield, then he can cause defences even more problems than he already does.

Opposing defenders are regularly forced to commit when Thuram drives forward with the ball, which serves to create space for his teammates – and his decision-making around when to release is already at a very high level. It is just the final detail on his penetrative passing that needs a touch more focus. That said, being a right-footer operating mostly to the left does give him the ability to comfortably switch play when required (below) – particularly when used in a slightly deeper position.

Out of possession

Without the ball, Thuram is particularly strong when duelling for the second phase of play, especially when working back towards his own goal. His height enables him to compete well in aerial duels and get his body in between the ball and his direct opponent when he needs to. Even if it looks like an opponent will beat him to the ball, his long legs give him the ability to stretch further and secure play against the odds.

He is most aggressive when competing for second-phase balls in transitional moments, but when pressing Thuram provides good secondary support around the front line (below). He can work well in a pair with a single centre-forward when required, locking play one way to help others regain possession in the following phase. He isn’t always the quickest to change direction once committed to the press, but when able to stay touch-tight to an opponent he has the strength and agility to wrap his leg around and pinch the ball away.

Thuram as a number eight

When used as a number eight in a 4-3-3, Thuram offers drive and energy through the left inside channel. In the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season, he completed more dribbles than any other Nice player. When not used as the central striker, Gaëtan Laborde was often deployed on the left but would naturally drift inside. This gave Thuram support ahead of and around the ball, with left-back Melvin Bard overlapping to give extra wide support (below). 

Thuram then had space in which to drive, options to combine, and teammates to switch or cross into. His crossing numbers increased from 11 in the league in 2021/22 French league campaign to 30 in 2022/23 – evidence that he has become a more rounded attacking threat when high in the left inside channel, with the right-sided number eight adding runs towards the ball where necessary. This allows Thuram to work the ball across the pitch and into the other inside channel, with the team’s right wingers – either Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pépé or Badredine Bouanani – holding the width.

Without the ball, Thuram would often jump to join the first line of the press, especially when the single forward forces play towards the left. The whole left side would then be very aggressive in the press, with left-back Bard and left centre-back Dante often following their opponents as they dropped to support Thuram’s press. Thuram has shown real ability in creating wider pressing traps, which can lead to more purposeful attacking transitions upon any regain. 

Thuram as a pivot

When used in a deeper role, Thuram usually sets up in a double pivot that allows both full-backs to push forward (below). On the left side, again, the winger would be aggressive with their positioning, moving towards the centre-forward. Although this created much more room for the left-back, it also allowed Thuram to run forward off the ball from a deeper starting position. Here, he operates as more of a box-to-box midfielder, initially starting deeper to help the centre-backs build into midfield, before then joining the attack later on. From this position, he is also able to provide shorter passes to help maintain the team’s rhythm in central spaces, while also allowing time for the back line to readjust after periods of defending. 

Without the ball, Thuram would help support and collect any second balls or loose bits of play. From this position he is less responsible for jumping out to press, especially when Nice utilised a single number 10 ahead of the double pivot. Instead, he would sometimes even cover into the back line, and protect the spaces in between the centre-back and full-back on his side. This involves much tighter marking and tracking, and less of the explosive press he performs when playing as a number eight.

That Thuram has impressed in a Nice team that hasn’t threatened the European qualifying places in Ligue 1 this season says a lot for his potential. If he gets a move to the Premier League this summer, he will surely be one to watch in English football.   

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Author: The Coaches' Voice