Liverpool are certain they have a 21-year-old player who’s heading for the ‘very top level’

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Liverpool’s summer of 2023 has looked better and better the longer the season has gone on.

There was a big job in front of the Reds as they looked to overhaul what had become an aging midfield. But with the new signings transforming their fortunes on the pitch, it has certainly been job done.

Of the four players brought in last year though, one in particular has just struggled a little to fully settle: Ryan Gravenberch.

Obviously, it hasn’t all been bad for Gravenberch. There have been some real positives in there, even if he has underwhelmed a little too often. And according to journalist Fabrizio Romano in his Daily Briefing today, Liverpool are still ‘convinced’ that they’ve made the right call on the 21-year-old.

“It’s the same with all the other midfielders who joined the club, especially Endo, who was not the biggest name but who has surprised a few people here in England,” Romano reports, while assessing the Reds’ business.

“And they’re also convinced that Gravenberch’s future will be at the very top level as he bounces back from a difficult spell at Bayern Munich.”

Liverpool convinced of Gravenberch potential

When Gravenberch was signed, perhaps not all Liverpool fans were completely on board. This was a player who had just failed to make his mark on Bayern after all.

But despite some reservations, the positives certainly outweighed the negatives. Here was a young player, already with bags of experience, who has the attributes to be special.

Six months on from his signing and you’d have to say that the same feeling presides over Gravenberch.

The positives certainly outweigh the negatives and he’s contributed to what could still be an incredible season for Liverpool. But he has looked like a player needing to regain his confidence, too. That will hopefully come over time.

Given that he already played over 100 times for Ajax, spent a season at Bayern and has 11 caps for the Netherlands, it can be easy to forget that Gravenberch doesn’t turn 22 until May.

But nevertheless, he is a very young player spending his first season in England. It was always likely to take some time.

If Gravenberch can ride this storm though, then Liverpool should end up with a special player. The Dutchman has all the attributes to be an elite midfielder.

Obviously, that won’t be under Jurgen Klopp. But hopefully the new manager can see the qualities of Ryan and develop him into the player he’s expected to become.

In the here and now, it’ll be a few weeks before we see Gravenberch back in Liverpool red. When he does return though, expect him to keep putting his mark on the team and slowly looking more at home.