27 June 2023 , 10:50
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Liverpool have been dealt a setback after one of their reported midfield targets, Ryan Gravenberch, stated his desire to remain at Bayern Munich.
Following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Liverpool are expected to begin an overhaul of their midfield. This began with the signing of Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister earlier this month, but investment is set to continue as Jurgen Klopp hopes to take his side back into the Champions League.
The Reds had been linked to Jude Bellingham, but with the England international's transfer to Real Madrid their sights have turned to other targets. Gravenberch has been identified as an alternative to Bellingham, with the 21-year-old Dutchman having a similar playing style to his fellow midfielder.
The former Ajax midfielder was bought for just £16.3 million last summer, with Bayern thought to be receptive to a deal which would recoup that fee. However, Gravenberch revealed his expectations for the future to Algemeen Dagblad : “I am assuming that I will still be at Bayern next season." He continued. “That is how I am really in it.
“I am at a top three club in the world. I think that’s beautiful and special." Gravenberch revealed his desire to stay and fight for his place: “I am not giving up just like that.
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“My goal is still to succeed at Bayern.”
Man City have also been linked to Gravenberch, but their sights appear set on deals for Declan Rice and Mateo Kovacic, leaving Liverpool with an option to make a proposition to the player.
Liverpool remain linked with a move to sign Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, with the Italy international thought to be the box-to-box option Klopp is looking for.
However, the German manager has recently downplayed the need for a vast influx of midfielders this summer, citing social media's influence as a negative factor and the emergence of players such as Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic as cause for optimism.
He said in April: "If you go to social media and look there you think: "Oh my God! There is no bigger problem in the world than our midfield!'
Jurgen Klopp may have to put more faith in players such as Curtis Jones next season ((Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images))"Somebody showed me after the last game we played, a thing on Instagram and what people write about our line-up. Not a lot of them wanted Curtis Jones on the pitch or Cody Gakpo on the pitch and when they saw Joel Matip was playing they say they will watch the other game and these are people who like us usually!
"I understand that this season makes people nervous, I understand that 100%," He continued. “We were not ourselves in big parts of the season, but we still have to make good decisions and not panic decisions where we say: 'That's it for him! He will never come back and play football for us again.' That is not how it is.
"That is why I said that whatever we do in the summer, it will not be enough for these people in the first place, so we have to make decisions on the basis of the things we know. That is exactly what we will do.”