After the summer transfer window closed on Friday night, Jürgen Klopp completed his midfield reconstruction project. Liverpool has been active in recent months, and that may be an understatement, with as many as five players leaving and four coming.
In terms of departures, the Reds let Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, and Naby Keta to leave, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch taking their place. The latter signed just hours before the deadline, and his presence at Anfield is sure to be encouraging for a certain wonderkid.
As Klopp has rebuilt his engine room, he has been eager to keep room open for Stefan Bajetic, who is still only 18 years old but showed tremendous potential when given opportunities on the field last season. The Spanish midfielder is hardworking but also skillful, and he has the potential to become a star if he is fostered on Merseyside.
Gravenberch arrives as a very capable addition with a very high ceiling based on his game. He is still only 21 years old, but he should not inhibit Bajetic’s development because he is a dynamic performer who appears to thrive more forward for the Reds.
Liverpool signed him from Bayern Munich, and his departure was discussed by Thomas Tuchel on Friday. “He’s a box-to-box midfielder for me, an attacking player,” the Bundesliga manager explained. “The main issue for him is that in our 4-2-3-1 system, we don’t really play with a [number] eight.” He was dissatisfied with his current circumstances. He sees an opportunity in Liverpool to compete for a spot at eight in a 4-3-3.”
Indeed, Tuchel’s statements suggest that Gravenberch will compete for playing time with the likes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, which may surprise many Reds fans. On Merseyside, supporters have speculated about Klopp’s new signing potentially replacing Fabinho as a holding midfielder who primarily stays behind the ball.
Such expectations are likely due to Gravenberch’s frame (he stands roughly 1.9m tall) and the fact that Endo, 30, was Liverpool’s only defensive addition this summer.
Gravenberch possesses a complete skill set to be tested as a number six at Anfield, but rather than following in the footsteps of Fabinho and becoming that player, Klopp may have such a plan in mind for Bajetic, who has presented himself as more of a natural in the role.
He’s still a teenager, so he has plenty of room to grow in a red shirt. Last season, Bajetic even managed to demote Fabinho to the bench, with Klopp complimenting the youngster’s influence as he took the field without fear of making a mistake.
“It’s now really helpful because we have Stefan, the guy who wants to win challenges, protects everyone, and plays football,” he remarked earlier this year. “He’s unconcerned about anything. He simply plays football and does it well. He’s made significant strides with us. Very gifted, and motivated to grow in each game.”
With Endo as the lone defensive midfield addition this summer, Klopp is quietly empowering Bajetic to justify his faith in him. Liverpool will be without a clear heir to Fabinho’s throne for the duration of the season, with that void inspiring young individuals within the group to come up and produce.
If Bajetic — or perhaps Gravenberch — steals the show in the coming months, the Reds will have no need to scout the market for a Fabinho replacement when the transfer window reopens. This season, it appears Klopp will try to create his own internal answer to his missing number six. Bajetic could be the biggest beneficiary of the market’s more long-term, established alternative.