How would Ryan Gravenberch fit into Jurgen Klopp's plans?

Liverpool are reportedly in negotiations with Bayern Munich over the permanent signing of Ryan Gravenberch, according to David Ornstein.

The reliable journalist also pointed out that the deal is not yet guaranteed to happen just yet, but the 21-year-old wants the move to Anfield.

Liverpool will continue discussions with Bayern Munich, with a formal offer for the midfielder expected soon.

Jurgen Klopp has been a long-term admirer of the midfielder, with the Reds registering their interest in the player whilst he was still at Ajax.

Gravenberch decided to move to Bayern Munich last summer after leaving Ajax for £20million.

Although, this time the youngster wants the move to Anfield, where he would partner up with international teammates Virgil Van Dijk and Cody Gakpo.

A key hurdle in the deal though is that Bayern Munich would need a replacement lined up before letting Gravenberch depart.

The Bundesliga champions are currently the favourites to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham for upwards of £60million.

However, in this article we’re going to take a deeper look into why Jurgen Klopp wants the youngster and how he would fit into the current squad.

Who is Ryan Gravenberch?

Ryan Gravenberch is a versatile, 21-year-old midfielder currently playing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

The youngster became one of the hottest prospects in European football during his time at Ajax between 2019 and 2022.

In the summer of 2022, he secured a move to Bayern Munich where he would sign a five-year contract until 2027.

However, a lack of first-team football for the German champions has lead to the youngster pushing for a move away from the Allianz.

This has led to both Liverpool, Manchester United and Napoli to be heavily linked with a move for the Dutchman, with a fee of £30million likely required to secure his signature.

How would Gravenberch fit into Klopp’s plans?

After already signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szobozslai and Wataru Endo this summer, the Reds were always tipped to make a fourth signing.

As mentioned before, Gravenberch has been linked with a move to Anfield for a number of years now with Klopp obviously a huge admirer.

With Endo and Stefan Bajcetic already at the club, reports had suggested that Liverpool weren’t looking to add another specialist defensive midfielder to their ranks.

Therefore, a versatile option like Ryan Gravenberch makes perfect sense to what the Reds need in their squad.

The 21-year-old is naturally preferred as a number 8 but can also slot into both the defensive and offensive midfield roles with ease.

This is something that Klopp has perhaps lacked in the opening few games, emphasised by Thiago Alcantara’s absence.

What to expect from Gravenberch?

Gravenberch is a perfectly well-rounded player, that can offer you a completely unique dimension to a side.

Whilst boasting an impressive 85.1% pass completion rate, the 21-year-old is also extremely progressive with the ball.

Averaging 6.67 progressive passes, 1.87 progressive carries and 1.40 successful take-ons per 90 minutes.

However, he is also a very strong defensive option in the midfield averaging 2.69 tackles per 90 minutes.

Gravenberch also averages 3.98 tackles and interceptions and 7.61 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

The youngster is also fairly dominant in the air, winning 1.05 aerials per 90 minutes on average.

Gravenberch could certainly become a fantastic player under Klopp, making himself a regular fixture in his midfield.