Liverpool had Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch on their shortlist of Aurelien Tchouameni alternatives last summer.
The Reds had installed Tchouameni as their top target last year, only to see him join Real Madrid instead. And according to Sky Sports, the Frenchman wasn’t the only player who they lost out on.
They claim that then Ajax midfielder Gravenberch was another to be shortlisted. However, having put all their eggs in the Tchouameni basket, Liverpool missed the boat. By the time it became clear that they’d missed out on the 23-year-old, Gravenberch had reportedly already agreed to join Bayern Munich.
Liverpool desperate to learn from their mistakes
With every passing day, Liverpool’s poor decisions of last summer become even more baffling. Why were they not working on Tchouameni and Gravenberch at the same time? How did they let both leave for other clubs while not having a suitable third option?
Whatever the rationale behind it, it was the wrong decision. On both counts.
Then again, picture if Liverpool had actually managed to get both Gravenberch and Tchouameni. Those two players would have transformed the Reds’ flailing midfield over-night.
Tchouameni was obviously the big ticket move, with the Frenchman eventually joining Real Madrid for around £85m. But with Ajax settling for just £20m for Gravenberch, it’s feasible that both players could have been brought in together.
As per some reports, it isn’t off the table that that idea may actually come to fruition this summer. The Bayern man is clearly a player Liverpool like and has struggled badly in Germany. His name has been brought up frequently as the Reds recommence their midfielder hunt this year. Tchouameni on the other hand is surely an unrealistic target now. But owing to his own struggles at Madrid, maybe a move isn’t completely impossible.
Either way, Liverpool’s poor planning cost them a whole season. It’s imperative that past mistakes are rectified in the coming months.