Despite adding three new players to the roster, Liverpool’s midfield makeover is far from complete. The next stage appears to be leading the club in the direction of Ryan Gravenberch, who, although raising some eyebrows last season at Bayern Munich, could be an ideal fit for Jürgen Klopp.
According to the ECHO, Liverpool admires Gravenberch and his talent. The club had the Dutch international on its radar for some time and even attempted to sign him last summer before he chose to join Bayern.
Gravenberch may rue that decision in retrospect considering his lack of playing time with the German giants, but at 21 years old, he still has plenty of time to correct his career and get back on track. Liverpool, according to The Athletic, would be interested if he became available this summer.
A move to Liverpool could be a fantastic step toward increased playing time, especially given how highly the club regards him.
It’s reasonable for supporters to be skeptical about his arrival. Gravenberch, unlike other possibilities, is still raw and on the tail of a season of unknown quantity. However, he isn’t inherently out of shape, as he has demonstrated this summer.
Gravenberch was a member of the Netherlands’ U21 team that competed in the U21 European Championship, and despite his team’s elimination, he stood out with his efforts.
Gravenberch ranked among the top five midfielders in the competition for defensive duel rate, winning 15 of 21 defensive duels (71.43%) in total, according to Wyscout. He also had six interceptions and 24 recoveries to his credit.
Those defensive statistics demonstrate why he will be an excellent addition to the Anfield squad. Last season, Klopp’s team frequently struggled due to a lack of defensive consistency in the middle of the field; Gravenberch has already demonstrated this summer that he can deliver exactly what the Reds have been lacking.
Furthermore, he was equally exciting to watch on the ball, making 10 progressive runs that put him third among midfielders. He also completed 62.26 passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the top five best-performing midfielders in the category.
Gravenberch doesn’t appear to have lost his touch based on those performances. After all, form is just ephemeral, whereas class is forever, and given his ability to advance the ball and understand the game, he would tick a lot of boxes for Liverpool.
Bringing him to Anfield is a bold move, but if he can continue where he left off in the U21 European Championships, Liverpool may have made one of the wisest moves in a long time. Gravenberch would be a fantastic addition to Liverpool’s midfield and someone who can take Klopp’s midfield to the next level.