Newcastle United shocked everybody when they swiftly tied up a deal for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, especially as it looked like Khephren Thuram was a priority target.
The Magpies had been linked with many high profile midfield targets leading up to the summer transfer window, but the deal for Sandro Tonali seemingly came out of nowhere.
One player who was mentioned alongside Newcastle regularly was 22-year-old OG Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.
The Magpies felt they had the budget to sign Khephren Thuram
Newcastle had been interested in the young Frenchman since March and it was believed he’d be a priority target for Newcastle this summer, but despite that interest no bid was made.
The Telegraph now confirm that Newcastle did look at Thuram as an option but, despite feeling a deal would have been within budget, they opted to look elsewhere.
The report says: “Newcastle scouted Germany’s Bundesliga and France Ligue 1 extensively and had various names on their shortlist. RB Leipzig’s Felix Nmecha and Nice’s Khephren Thuram featured prominently and would have been within budget.”
Did Eddie Howe make the right call choosing Tonali over Thuram?
It then goes on to say how Nicolo Barella became the priority but after initial talks it became clear that the deal would work out just as expensive as a move for Declan Rice so their attention switched to Sandro Tonali.
With Tonali now due to be confirmed as a Newcastle player this week, it now seems that any interest in Khephren Thuram is now over, paving the way Liverpool to make their bid for the player Jurgen Klopp called ‘perfect‘ for Liverpool.
Both Thuram and Tonali are quality players, but I can’t help feeling Newcastle made the right call in choosing the Italian. Perhaps that just bias based on the situation, but I just get the impression that Tonali is really going to suit Eddie Howe‘s style and will go on to be a Newcastle legend.
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