Liverpool owe a lot to Mohamed Salah, who has devoted the prime years of his illustrious profession to Anfield and cemented his standing as one of many Premier League’s all-time greats.
Having clinched 28 targets and 18 assists within the high flight this time period, Salah has been the driving pressure behind his facet’s historic triumph, equalling Manchester United’s report of 20 English first division titles.
Nonetheless, Salah is just not the one star in Liverpool’s crew. Virgil van Dijk has been an all-commanding titan in defence, whereas Alexis Mac Allister has pulled the strings within the centre.
It is Ryan Gravenberch, although, who deserves recognition for being Liverpool’s secret weapon on this title triumph, refashioned by Arne Slot into one in every of Europe’s superlative quantity sixes.
Midfield is not the primary precedence for the Reds, heading into the summer time switch window, however FSG might need recognized a shrewd option to make Gravenberch even higher.
Liverpool chasing new midfielder
In keeping with Spanish studies, Liverpool need to reap the benefits of Frenkie De Jong’s state of affairs at Barcelona, out of contract in little over a yr, and can take a look at the La Liga large’s resolve with a €40m (£34m) bid this summer time.
The piece outlines that there’s believed to be a ‘willingness’ at Camp Nou to probably take heed to affords for the previous Ajax man, albeit with the Reds set to be joined by Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis within the race for his signature.
De Jong has prevented accidents for many of the marketing campaign however hasn’t all the time discovered his identify on the beginning teamsheet underneath Hansi Flick, and given Liverpool’s pedigree and robust Dutch contingent, could possibly be enticed by making the transfer to Merseyside.
Why Liverpool need Frenkie De Jong
De Jong, 27, has performed 253 video games for Barcelona since leaving Amsterdam as an illustrious prodigy in 2019 for a £65m price.
Health issues have been the bane of his profession in Spain, however there is no query De Jong is an elite-standard participant, together with his former boss Xavi calling him “top-of-the-line midfielders on the earth.”
Nonetheless, his La Blaugrana journey underneath Flick’s wing has been stunted regardless of enhancements on the harm entrance, and a transfer to Liverpool might show the recent begin he wants at this stage of his profession, becoming a member of Gravenberch in Slot’s midfield.
Gravenberch’s rise from prospect to famous person has been a unprecedented factor this yr, and whereas De Jong is older than his 22-year-old compatriot, he’ll really feel that Slot’s fluid ball-playing soccer might have the same impact on his sport.
|
Ryan Gravenberch within the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per sport) |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|
Matches (begins) |
26 (12) |
34 (34) |
|
Objectives |
1 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
4 |
|
Touches* |
28.8 |
67.3 |
|
Go completion |
83% |
89% |
|
Key passes* |
0.6 |
0.7 |
|
Dribbles* |
0.9 |
1.0 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
2.8 |
5.3 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
1.5 |
3.6 |
|
Duels (gained)* |
2.8 (47%) |
5.0 (58%) |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
||
how Slot managed to get a melodic tune out of Gravenberch this season, you would be assured that he might elevate a fully-fit De Jong again to his greatest at Liverpool too.
The Dutch worldwide could be considerably on the margins at Barcelona proper now, however he is nonetheless managed to showcase his high quality to an excellent diploma, particularly necessary within the Champions League.
As per FBref, he ranks among the many high 1% of centre-midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for go completion, the highest 4% for passes tried and the highest 7% for progressive passes per 90.
A go is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the following contact is at the very least 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s aim or any accomplished go into the penalty space.
Such passing high quality might play completely into Gravenberch’s strengths, putting an thrilling connection in Liverpool’s engine room subsequent time period as Slot appears to be like to go once more, defend his Premier League title and problem throughout different fronts.
Gravenberch likes to drive the ball ahead and covers numerous floor in the midst of the park, and having a extra rooted deep-lying playmaker beside him might show a confluence of types to make this Liverpool facet even higher, easing the workload that Mac Allister has needed to carry.
Liverpool have already got sufficient depth in midfield that this might show an astute piece of enterprise, and Slot’s teaching success on his countrymen this time period suggests it could be worthwhile.
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