Liverpool have signed Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day to help solve their midfield woes.
The Dutch international has been keen to leave the German side just one year after joining from Ajax, having made just three Bundesliga starts last season. Liverpool have paid a transfer fee of €40 million (£34m), which includes €5m in add-ons, tying the player down to a five-year contract.
Although Thomas Tuchel was evidently happy to let the disgruntled Dutchman leave, the former Chelsea boss is probably pulling out what little hair he has remaining following a disastrous final day of the transfer window for the club.
Bayern were on the cusp of signing Joao Palhinha from Fulham for a transfer fee in the region of £55 million, which would have been a club record sale for the Cottagers. However, the west London outfit could not find a replacement for the Portuguese, who was all ready to sign on the dotted line after completing his medical in Munich, before the 5pm deadline in Germany.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah also looked set to join the German champions, with both club and player open to a loan move with no option to buy. However, according to Sport1 reporter Kerry Hau, they chose to pursue Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap instead, only to lose out on both players when they failed to get the green light to sign the German centre-back.
There was also a late approach to Man City to take Joao Cancelo on loan again, but they failed to hijack Barcelona’s move, missing out on four big signings in the one day.
Gravenberch’s exit means Bayern end deadline day with fewer player than they started with, missing out on all four of their targets.
Jurgen Klopp is said to be an admirer of the player, who he hopes will add more steel and guile to a midfield that has been notably porous in the opening weeks of the new Premier League campaign.
The Reds sold important first-teamers in Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Pro League clubs this summer, while James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita also left the club. They have completely overhauled their midfield, signing Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis MacAllister and Wataru Endo as well as Gravenberch.
