Liverpool are closing in on a deadline-day deal with Bayern Munich for Ryan Gravenberch. He’ll provide Jurgen Klopp with a much-needed new midfield option. Here is a possible Liverpool lineup with Gravenberch.
This signing completes the Reds’ drastic midfield overhaul this summer. Liverpool fans have seen the departures of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, and Fabio Carvalho, creating huge vacancies in the center of the pitch.
The club made a fantastic early move by signing Alexis MacAllister from Brighton for around £35 million, a steal by the standards of some transfers this summer. Dominik Szoboszlai quickly followed, but Liverpool were left disappointed as other midfield targets eluded them.
They appear to be closing off the transfer window with one more midfield addition, with Ryan Gravenberch joining to compete with Curtis Jones and fellow newcomer Wataru Endo.
How might Liverpool line up against Gravenberch?
Gravenberch will play as the holding midfielder
The most likely Liverpool lineup with Ryan Gravenberch will see the Dutchman play as a holding midfielder. Gravenberch would be expected to anchor the midfield and provide security for a defense that has surrendered in all three Premier League games this season, with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai now appearing like sure bets.
After a fragmented season in Munich, Klopp may need some time to regain Gravenberch’s confidence and develop him into the holding midfielder he seeks. Meanwhile, Endo may continue to play the role he did in the recent win at Newcastle, but the Japanese international may expect stiff competition from the newcomer.
Gravenberch would be resuming more of the role he had at Ajax, where he frequently played as a single pivot, rather than his limited opportunities in Munich, where he usually appeared alongside Joshua Kimmich or Leon Goretzka in a 4-2-3-1 system.
The 21-year-old would drop deep to pick up the ball and would almost certainly attempt to feed Mac Allister or Szoboszlai. His height and pace will also be valuable assets to Liverpool as they seek greater stability following a rocky 2022/23 season in which the Reds conceded 47 Premier League goals.
Gravenberch is a number eight
Gravenberch as a number 8 is an alternate option for Jurgen Klopp. He’d most likely start on the left side of the three, a role he also played in the Eredivisie, frequently combining nicely with Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.
Gravenberch would have far more leeway to move forward and support attacks in such a role. He was more of an attack-minded player in his early years, routinely scoring for Ajax’s junior and senior sides, but has been employed in a more conservative role in recent seasons.
Gravenberch’s versatility should guarantee that he gets game time across the Liverpool midfield this season, even if the number 8 role ends up being his best position. That will offer Jurgen Klopp a fantastic opportunity to thoroughly analyze the Dutch international, who has also been linked with Manchester United this summer.
