There are few better sights in Ligue 1 than the languid Khéphren Thuram bursting through the lines. The France international is blessed with physicality and technical ability, which combine to create an eye-catching and explosive player.
However, it is a sight that is becoming increasingly rare; the audible rustling of seats when Thuram gets on the ball is still a regular feature of Nice’s home matches at the Allianz Riviera, however, in past weeks, what comes next has been underwhelming.
Thuram was at his best at the start of 2023. He was the biggest benefactor of the managerial change that saw Didier Digard arrive on an interim basis. Between the end of January and May, there was no better midfielder in Ligue 1. His ability to break the press and penetrate through the lines is unparalleled. His elegance and efficiency in slaloming vertically through a packed midfield is most reminiscent of former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembélé.
Like Dembélé, Thuram’s impact is not often reflected in statistics. With no goals or assists this season, and just two goals and eight assists (48 appearances in all competitions) last season, his return is a relatively meagre one.
It is a clear area for improvement. His inefficiency in front of goal is a clear weakness, and one which Thuram admits he must address. “I need to finish better [but] It is a good thing that I find myself in front of the goal,” he said in a press conference in November.
Thuram developing defensive game under Farioli
His lack of success in front of goal is in stark contrast to his brother’s goalscoring feats. Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram has eight goals since his summer move to Serie A. However, Marcus “doesn’t tease” younger brother Khéphren about his poor finishing, but rather “encourages” him to improve. Many of Thuram’s goals for Nice come from outside the box. The harder the chance is to score, the more chance of scoring; the opposite is also true, indicating less a lack of confidence but a difficulty in handling the pressure of having to convert the more high-quality chances.
Defensively, Thuram has certainly improved, and he has had to. Due to his physique, the Frenchman has, at times, been mis-profiled as a No.6. At times this season, due to a lack of depth, he has had to fill in in that position. Whenever he has done so, he has been proficient, albeit unspectacular. His positioning was particularly good, and his ability to follow instructions and drop into the back-line in order to form a five-man defence at times was a clear strength.
“I have progressed in my defensive game. I am better tactically,” said Thuram, who under Francesco Farioli is developing certain aspects of his game and becoming a more rounded player as a result.
However, Farioli’s play-style arguably does restrain Thuram in some ways. The Italian is particularly conscious of his rest defence in possession. A marauding player like Thuram is not necessarily a welcome joker in the pack when such focus is put on defensive solidity and protecting oneself from dangerous transitions and turnovers.
With Thuram’s outstanding strength masked somewhat in recent weeks, the excitement that has accompanied him in recent months and years has slightly dissipated. He had been the subject of interest from Liverpool in particular in the summer, however, as he told Get French Football News, a departure from the Allianz Riviera was not on the agenda.
“Regarding what happened in the transfer window, I decided to stay. I wanted to continue to progress at Nice, progress as a player at this club. Honestly, it made me happy to be linked to all these clubs left, right and centre. It shows I’m doing the right things but as I said, I knew I wanted to stay here,” said the Frenchman.
Time will tell if that decision was a smart one. He undoubtedly had EURO 2024 in mind when making his decision. Having earned his first cap for Les Bleus in 2023, he then sought to consolidate his place in Didier Deschamps’ set-up, but his difficult start to the season has thus far prevented him from featuring again for France.
Will Thuram’s decision to remain at Nice be validated?
Whilst the season is yet young, Thuram won’t have too many more chances to impress Deschamps, who only has one more international break during which to evaluate his options. Thuram will therefore need a strong start to 2024. The former AS Monaco academy midfielder missed Nice’s final games of 2023 with a knee injury, which could also see him miss the return of Ligue 1 football in early January.
At Nice, however, if he is fit, Thuram starts, and it is perhaps this fact that validates his decision to remain with Le Gym. If this year has shown one thing, it is that Thuram has great promise but also glaring weaknesses. He is an unpolished diamond and the guarantee of a place in the starting XI during this phase of development allows him to perfect his game, without the fear of omission.
The conditions are near-optimal for Thuram to return to his best in 2024, however, there is no denying that next year will be a pivotal one. Thuram shows promise but his ceiling is yet to be ascertained.
Granted, Thuram has made strides in 2023 but he must make further strides in 2024. He is yet to master the ability to control the midfield and his decision-making in the final third is a point of contention that has been highlighted in previous years. His ability to make improvements in these areas in particular will determine how high Thuram will go.
A good half-season could see him earn that long-awaited big-money move and even work his way into Deschamps’ plans for EURO 2024. However, it could equally be a year of stagnation. Thuram’s ability to become an even more versatile, and therefore even more effective midfielder, will determine whether he sinks or swims at Nice.
