Liverpool Staff See Ryan Gravenberch as Similar to Gini Wijnaldum
Liverpool have made a late transfer window move to sign Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, and there has been debate over where he fits in at Anfield. However, according to The Athletic, senior recruitment staff have spotted “similarities” between the 21-year-old and former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.
Multi-Functional Midfielder
Jurgen Klopp wanted someone who was ‘multi-functional’ and he viewed Gravenberch as the ideal recruit. He can play deep if required but is viewed as most effective operating further forward. Wijnaldum made 237 appearances for Liverpool over five years with the majority of those being as a left-sided No. 8, typically with Fabinho as No. 6 and Jordan Henderson alongside him.
According to Transfermarkt, Wijnaldum also played 38 times as a defensive midfielder, 18 of those coming in his final season with the club in 2020/21. There were occasions when Wijnaldum filled other roles, too, such as in emergency at centre-back and even as a centre-forward against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Gravenberch’s Experience
Meanwhile, Gravenberch’s time at Ajax saw him make 103 appearances with 17 as a defensive midfielder. This ability to adapt and maintain consistency wherever he was played made Wijnaldum such a vital player for Klopp – and it would be excellent if Gravenberch could replicate this.
Competition in Midfield
It is likely that Gravenberch joins a stable of regular midfielders along with Mac Allister, Endo, Bajcetic, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott. Rather than replacing Fabinho, it seems, the club opted to recruit a number of all-rounders, with Gravenberch among those able to rotate throughout the midfield.
Gravenberch is a high-potential signing from Bayern Munich and there is no doubting the 21-year-old’s quality. With competition rife, there could be concerns over where he fits in. But according to The Athletic, senior recruitment staff spotted “similarities” with former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum in Gravenberch’s game.
Conclusion
It may seem a lazy comparison given they are both Dutchmen, but it holds up given the new No. 38’s ability to play a variety of roles – including deeper in midfield. It will be interesting to see how Gravenberch fits into the team and if he can replicate the success of Wijnaldum during his time at Liverpool.