Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch chose not to comment when asked about rumours he’s going to join Liverpool last night.
Gravenberch’s team were in Champions League action, crashing in the last eight to Manchester City. The Dutchman played no part in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw though, ending up as an unused substitute.
And as per journalist Christian Falk, Gravenberch was asked about links to Liverpool after the game finished.
“Ryan Gravenberch didn‘t want to comment the interest of LFC,” Falk wrote on Twitter last night.
After his team failed to fully turn up in a difficult tie against City, it’s probably wise for the 20-year-old to keep schtum. No doubt this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Gravenberch potentially moving to Anfield, though.
Gravenberch sits out City tie
That Gravenberch remained on the bench last night wasn’t a great surprise. The 20-year-old has been used sparingly by first Julian Nagelsmann and now Thomas Tuchel. He didn’t get any minutes in the first-leg at the Etihad, either. For whatever reason, the Netherlands international doesn’t appear to be trusted.
For some Liverpool fans, that will serve as an almighty red flag. If a player isn’t good enough to get into this slightly sluggish Bayern side, then why should he be considered for the Reds’ massive midfield rebuild?
It’s a fair question, but plenty of players have struggled to get into big teams having made moves at young ages. Gravenberch certainly wouldn’t be the first to find the going tough at Bayern.
It could obviously be an indication that he also couldn’t cut the mustard at Liverpool. But instead, it feels more a case of a young player being eased into a new environment in a team not hitting their usual heights.
In Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, Gravenberch is also behind two players who’ve been there and won it all with Bayern. To go straight into that and start regularly in his first season was perhaps always going to be unrealistic. Some players may accept that, but given his confidence in his ability, it seems Gravenberch is unwilling to.
His situation draws certain parallels with another player Liverpool missed out on last summer – Aurelien Tchouameni. Tchouameni is also struggling to make an impression at a huge side having made a move at a young age. Whereas the Frenchman seems happy to push through though, it seems Gravenberch is agitating to leave. If not publicly, then in private anyway.