Liverpool’s preparations for a summer rebuild have already begun, with negotiations underway about a number of possible midfield targets as the club accepts Jude Bellingham will not be joining them. The Reds are in need of midfield reinforcements, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to leave at the end of the season.
Since the last season, Jude Bellingham was heavily linked, but it looks the Borussia Dortmund midfielder will be too expensive for the 2022 Champions League finalists. With this in mind, attention has shifted to other possibilities. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are two names linked with the club, with the Reds considering a move for the Bayern Munich midfielder.
Liverpool’s Jude Bellingham alternative deal catching pace
Ryan Gravenberch is one of the players on the Liverpool’s radar, who is touted as their number-1 preference as Jude Bellingham’s alternative. The Dutch international, who has been linked with a move away from Bayern Munich after struggling for minutes, is open to a move to Anfield after meeting with Liverpool’s representatives.
Liverpool have long been interested in Gravenberch, dating back to his days as an outstanding Ajax youth product. Gravenberch regularly came across Liverpool during youth tournaments, and he ran into them again when the Reds were drawn in the same Champions League group as Ajax in the 2020-21 season. Gravenberch impressed, particularly in Amsterdam, where he competed manfully with a Liverpool midfield that included James Milner, Curtis Jones, and countryman Gini Wijnaldum.
The midfielder was one of several players who left Ajax last summer, including Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Sebastian Haller, Noussair Mazraoui, Perr Schuurs, and Niclolas Tagliafico, as well as manager Erik ten Hag. On the surface, a £20 million ($25 million) switch to Bayern looked like the ideal decision, with Gravenberch anticipated to continue his development in Bavaria. However, nothing has happened of that sorts.
Gravenberch’s debut season in Munich has been, to say the least, unsatisfactory. He has only started one Bundesliga game and four games overall. His last appearance came on November 1 against Inter in a Champions League dead rubber, and his only goal came in August, in a 5-0 cup triumph over third-tier Viktoria Koln. Gravenberch’s frustration has only intensified about his lack of playing time. Despite this, it is said that Gravenberch is leaning towards a new start this summer.
Despite this, Bayern have stated that they do not intend to trade the player this summer, and that Gravenberch is an important part of the club’s future. They are preparing to announce the signing of another midfielder, Konrad Laimer, from RB Leipzig, which means Gravenberch’s opportunities will be even more limited next season. Liverpool were interested in Laimer last summer, but were informed early on that the Austrian was on his way to Munich. It remains to be seen whether this will now assist them land Gravenberch.
Liverpool’s interest, on the other hand, stands strong. With Jude Bellingham off the table, the Reds are hoping to make at least three, if not four, major additions this summer, with improving their midfield ranks at the top of their priority list. The club has not denied a recent Sunday Times report that a representative met with Gravenberch’s father, Ryan senior, earlier this month in Amsterdam to explore a prospective deal.
Klopp has already stated Liverpool are ready to spend money this summer, and it is assumed that they will do so early in the window as well. One of the reasons they dropped out of the Jude Bellingham race is to avoid wasting time battling for a player who may or may not end up at Anfield. Closing a deal as early as possible has always been crucial to Klopp, who likes to have a complete pre-season to work with players and educate them the demands of his club.