cc
With the Serie A giants expected to lose Andre Onana to Old Trafford over the coming days or weeks, the impending confirmation of Marcus Thuram’s arrival at the San Siro at least offers some semblance of a consolation.
Thuram, according to BILD, was one of the strikers being watched by Manchester United towards the back end of last season.
The ‘world-class’ France international enjoyed the finest season of his career at Borussia Monchengladbach. He scored 16 times; offering a reminder as to why the legendary Arsene Wenger once likened him to a young Thierry Henry.
Thuram’s Gladbach contract expires on July 1st. There is a very real chance that he might already have been confirmed as an Inter player by then; Gianluca di Marzio reporting that Thuram is agreeing a deal that should keep him at the San Siro until 2027.
“Satisfied with the operation? Certainly yes,” Nerazzuri director Beppe Marotta smiled after being confronted by ravenous reporters outside of Inter’s training centre on Tuesday (Tuttomercatoweb).
After such an impressive Bundesliga season, Inter maybe expected to face greater competition for the one-time Guingamp youngster. Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Aston Villa and co had all been linked, while Manchester United are prioritising a new centre-forward capable of gobbling up the all-you-can-eat buffet of chances served up by Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Luke Shaw
Why United seemingly opted against stepping up their pursuit of Thuram is anyone’s guess; Rasmus Hojlund and Randal Kolo Muani instead emerging as Ten Hag’s preferred Harry Kane alternatives.
Perhaps Ten Hag felt Thuram was not a natural fit for the number nine role. The son of France legend Lillian and the older brother of Nice’s Khephren; 25-year-old Thuram prefers to drift in from the left-hand side in a manner reminiscent of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Hojlund, meanwhile, is more comfortable leading the line in a central role
