LIVERPOOL have reportedly identified Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch as the man they want to partner Jude Bellingham in their new-look midfield.
England World Cup star Bellingham, 19, is one of the most in-demand players in world football.
Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to be leading the chase for the Dortmund midfielder, who is under contract until 2025, with Manchester United and Chelsea also keen.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is desperate to rebuild his ageing engine room in the summer transfer window.
Thiago Alcantara, who arrived in 2020, has been the only midfield addition to the squad since 2018.
He will be 32 at the start of next season while skipper Jordan Henderson will be 33, while the future of 37-year-old James Milner remains up in the air.
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Both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will become free agents in June and on-loan loan Arthur Melo seems certain to return to Juventus.
Stefan Bajcetic, 18, has burst into the first-team squad over recent months but Klopp knows he must bring in reinforcements following LIverpool’s dismal campaign.
Bellingham is his No.1 target – now Sport 1 claims that they are “monitoring Gravenberch’s situation at Bayern Munich” too.
The 20-year-old Netherlands international joined the Bundesliga giants from Ajax at the start of the campaign but has struggled to replicate the form that earned him a big money move.
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In fact, Gravenberch has only started one game in the top-flight this term.
But an escape route could soon be on cards as Liverpool officials “have been privately discussing the possibility of making a move”.
Despite there being “no concrete interest”, this fresh report states that the Premier League club have “reached out to the midfielder’s representatives” already.
Whether Bayern are ready to do business or not remains to be seen as this update states that they currently have no desire to sell.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
