Sylvain Ripoll has told Jurgen Klopp why he should sign Khephren Thuram

France U21 manager Sylvain Ripoll has hailed Liverpool target Khephren Thuram

Les Bleuets got off to the perfect start as they look to win the European U21 Championships for the first time since 1988

Their curtain raiser finished 2-1 thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo and Bradley Barcola with Pietro Pellegri equalising for the Italians before the break.

Liverpool fans have their sights firmly fixed on the tournament in Georgia and Romania this summer as a host of their targets feature for their respective nations vying to be crowned champions of Europe.

The 22-year-old Thuram has been earmarked as one of the main targets after the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister

On Thursday night, he returned to the pitch for the first time after missing OGC Nice's run in through injury

he managed 65 minutes before being replaced and still received rave reviews from Ripoll.

Ripoll

"Khephren brings us despite everything his leadership and his ability to keep the ball," he said via L'Equipe. "You can't ask him for the impossible. He hadn't played for almost five weeks.

"He made the effort and we organised ourselves so that he could participate in part of the match because he is a very important boy in our group. I didn't expect him to be flamboyant, especially physically."