Ryan Gravenberch tries to answer a pub quiz. Who was the last person Jurgen Klopp recruited as Liverpool manager? That mantle could soon belong to the Dutchman if the quietest January transfer window comes to an unexpected end. The 21-year-old has long been a transfer target for Liverpool, despite moving to Anfield for up to £40million on transfer deadline day last August.
He caught the eye of Klopp when the 18-year-old led his side to Ajax in the Champions League in the 2020/21 season and they remained interested until the midfielder moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. Furthermore, a deal looked likely at the start of the year as his move to Bayern quickly fell through. Speculation linked the Reds with a winter move and the player’s agent at the time, Rafaela Pimenta, was even spotted at Anfield for the goalless draw against Chelsea on 21 January. Liverpool are set to meet Gravenbirch’s camp in April for scouting talks.
It was another four months before Bayern suggested a deal could be done, but United trailed behind and sensed an opportunity. Klopp revealed this while addressing fans outside the new stand at Anfield Road in mid-December, with the Dutchman saying he was far from a final signing.”Obviously we had two guys with Macka (Alexis McAllister) and Dom (Dominik Soboszlai) and we knew Ryan (Gravenburch) had a chance.
“In hindsight, it is interesting that Klopp’s comments came just weeks after informing FSG of his intention to leave the club. He spoke so well of the future that all but a few were unaware of the good news that was to come.Gravenberch, 21, is yet to enjoy his best years under Klopp. Once you have a view of your talented sparks, you may not understand that one of the current managers has done this instead of his successor. This was a mixed initiative in the International Lăţis in the Netherlands. He impressed early in his Liverpool career, scoring two goals and providing two assists in the club’s first five games, but was frozen out for the national team after incurring the wrath of Ronald Koeman after he turned down a call-up to the Under-21 squad.
For acclimatization in the UK in September.But as autumn gave way to winter and the adrenaline of new surroundings wore off, Gravenbirch began to struggle at Liverpool.
Despite a string of injuries in the Reds’ engine room, he continued to feature in Klopp’s starting XI.He made his sixth appearance for the club against Nottingham Forest at the end of October, making it his third appearance in a row at the time. However, he will only start one game ahead of the Premier League’s winter break earlier this month.
