Liverpool are attempting to recruit Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on Transfer Deadline Day, and they can provide him with a sizable incentive.
Jurgen Klopp has been desperate to acquire another midfielder after losing both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League. After weeks of speculation, they moved late in the window for Gravenberch and are on the verge of landing him.
Gravenberch is expected to go to Merseyside for a medical ahead of a £35 million deal from Bayern Munich, according to Mirror Football. With game time scarce in Bavaria, the 21-year-old has always been open to moving.
Liverpool’s perseverance in the quest appears to be paying off, and as an added bonus, the club will be able to offer Gravenberch a sweetener. While he hasn’t had as much opportunity to wear it as he would want, the Netherlands international has worn the No38 at Bayern.
His decision to wear the shirt after arriving from Ajax last summer was nostalgic, as No38 was his first squad number after graduating from the Ajax academy to the main team. And, by chance, the No38 is available in Liverpool.
In reality, the No38 shirt has remained vacant in the first-team squad since defender Jon Flanagan wore it in 2017/18. It hasn’t been a popular number, but as we witnessed when Declan Rice transferred from West Ham to Arsenal and kept the No41 shirt, emotion can be a powerful influence in football.
Gravenberch may have picked the No8 shirt if given the option, as that is the number he wore during his final two seasons at Ajax. Dominik Szoboszlai, another summer signing, came there first and has made a solid start in making it his own.
Gravenberch has various more choices available to him in Liverpool if he so desires. He has worn the numbers 14 and 16 for the Netherlands national team, and both are now available at the Reds.
No14 could be an auspicious pick, as it has been worn by past Liverpool midfielders such as Jordan Henderson, Xabi Alonso, and Jan Molby, as well as Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff.
Liverpool has a smaller team than many of its Premier League competitors, which implies a good selection of shirt numbers. In fact, 12, 14, 15, and 16 are all available, giving Gravenberch plenty of options when it comes to making a decision before Friday’s 11 p.m. deadline.