Report: What would really have happened to Ryan Gravenberch if Liverpool had signed Martin Zubimendi
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Liverpool’s summer transfer plans did not quite go as expected this year.
The Reds had looked likely to bring in several players, with a new holding midfielder being top of most supporter’s wish lists.
But after Liverpool were turned down by Martin Zubimendi, the Reds decided that they were better off pushing ahead with what they already had.
For Arne Slot, that meant re-shuffling the idea he had in mind for his perfect Liverpool midfield. Without Zubimendi, a different plan was going to have to be concocted.
Unwilling to compromise on a different signing, Slot saw Ryan Gravenberch as the best option within the Liverpool squad.
In the month and-half-since, Gravenberch has been a revelation. But it all begs the question of what would have happened to Liverpool’s new-found key player had Zubimendi been brought in after all.
Ryan Gravenberch gets Liverpool reprieve
Running parallel to Liverpool’s attempt to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad was a story that Gravenberch was up for sale at Anfield.
Slot was said to have decided that the Dutchman was not in his plans and was ready to sell him, with Galatasaray reportedly interested.
After just one year on Merseyside, it would have been a huge disappointment to have seen Gravenberch leave.
Despite an underwhelming first season at Anfield, it has always been clear that if the conditions are right, Gravenberch can become a super player.
READ MORE: Steve McManaman says Ryan Gravenberch does something ‘so different’ to every other number six
Thankfully, according to The Athletic, getting rid of the 22-year-old was not in Liverpool’s thinking.
Instead, they claim that it’s ‘highly likely’ that Gravenberch would instead have been resigned to bench duty for most of the campaign.
With Zubimendi pencilled in for a starting role alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Gravenberch would reportedly have been left out as fourth or fifth choice.
Will Liverpool come back for a new midfielder?
Gravenberch has been underlining his quality and potential to Liverpool with every passing game.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the former Ajax youngster, who has now played all but one minute of football in the eight Premier League and Champions League games this season.
Slot said Gravenberch was ‘outstanding’ against Bologna on Wednesday and the midfielder had a strong shout to be Liverpool’s man of the match yet again.
Despite that, though, there remains a feeling that Liverpool could still look for a new midfielder either in January or at the end of the season.
Slot clearly doesn’t fancy Wataru Endo and it seems as though a different player may be targeted to play back-up to Gravenberch. What you can say, though, is that the new signing is surely now likely to be brought in as a back-up and not a starter like Zubimendi.
There’s still a bit to prove for Gravenberch, but after being given a reprieve, he’s finally starting to fulfil his vast potential.
