Liverpool signed the Netherlands international midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich yesterday as their last addition to the squad during the summer transfer window.
The Reds only signed midfielders having lost Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita.
Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Curtis Jones have also been unavailable for a while due to injuries, and manager Jurgen Klopp was desperate to strengthen in the middle of the park, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo joining Liverpool earlier this summer.
We have completed the signing of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on a long-term contract, subject to a work permit.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 1, 2023
The Anfield club are now well-stocked in the middle of the park, but Jamie Carragher does not understand why they signed Gravenberch given that he is not primarily a number 6.
“It’s interesting where he is going to fit in because I don’t think he’s necessarily this defensive midfield player that I think Liverpool still need,” he said on Sky Sports last night.
“Even though they have brought a player in from Germany.
“I think he’s more of a No 8, he’s box-to-box, he gets forward – and I think that’s why Bayern got rid of him, because Thomas Tuchel didn’t want to play him in that position.
“He’s a player Jurgen Klopp and the club wanted 12-18 months ago and I’m interested to see where he fits in and if Klopp thinks he’s going to be that defensive midfield player.
“He’s young, has good pedigree – having played for Ajax and Bayern – and, to be fair, the fee is not that expensive.”
The 21-year-old is a multi-faceted, versatile midfielder capable of playing as a No 6 at the base of midfield or as a No 8.
Gravenberch can play on the left side of a double pivot and also on the left of a midfield three in more advanced areas, but he is far from being a defensive specialist, but he still has plenty of time to be moulded into the type of player Klopp wants.
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