Liverpool still want Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch with Jorg Schmadtke understood to be a big fan.
Ryan Gravenberch remains on Liverpool’s transfer wish list but convincing Bayern Munich won’t be easy.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who has been speaking on the Born and Red YouTube channel.
Romano was asked about a potential move to sign Gravenberch, who has been linked with Liverpool on a number of occasions in recent months.
Romano admitted that Liverpool absolutely love Gravenberch – and it isn’t just Jurgen Klopp driving this interest.
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke also wants Gravenberch according to Romano and the Dutchman is open to making the move.
However, Gravenberch hasn’t asked Bayern to let him go and their position is that they want to keep the midfielder.
Bayern have maintained that stance all summer and unless Gravenberch really pushes for a move, a switch to Liverpool seems unlikely.
“They love Gravenberch, 100%,” said Romano. “It’s about the director, it’s about Jurgen Klopp, they really, really like the player and the player is open to the idea to make a move.”
“Ryan Gravenberch wants to speak to Bayern again to clarify his position. What I can say is that Bayern are still of the same position as in June, July and now in August – they don’t want to sell the player, they are sure that Ryan Gravenberch is going to be a top star of the position in the future, so it’s not an easy conversation with Bayern when they say no.”
“The only way to make it happen is on the player’s side, so if the player goes there and says ‘sell me, because I don’t want to stay here’. At the moment the player is concerned with the current situation because he wants to be a starter, he wants to be an important players but at the moment, he didn’t go there there and say ‘okay, let me go’. It’s still something that is on the early stages between Gravenberch and Bayern and, at the moment, Liverpool can only wait,” he added.
Ryan Gravenberch may not be what Liverpool need right now
We can understand why Liverpool hold an interest in Gravenberch.
The 21-year-old – branded ‘very dominant’ by his former coach Brian Tevreden – is a hugely talented box-to-box midfielder with great size at 6ft 3in tall,
Gravenberch showed off his technical ability at Ajax too, leading to Bayern striking a £21million deal last summer.
The Dutchman could have made a big impact in the Liverpool midfield but their needs have changed.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have moved on, meaning Liverpool ideally need defensively-minded midfielders.
Gravenberch’s size may leave some to think that he can play as a number six, but that would be a waste of his box-to-box abilities.
Links to Romeo Lavia and Andre Trindade – two players with experience of playing as holding midfielders – ultimately make more sense for Liverpool now.
Schmadtke and Klopp appear to be in agreement on Gravenberch’s talent, but moving for him now would be a surprise after signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai – unless somebody like Thiago ends up leaving and Liverpool choose to add a rangy midfielder to change up their midfield dynamic.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
