‘Contortionist’ Gravenberch was mentored by Man United boss but now loved by Klopp and is ‘better than Bellingham in EVERY way’
Ryan Gravenberch's arrival at Liverpool prompted Andrew Robertson to joke that the club have finally got a good Dutch player.
While Gravenberch may not have the pedigree of Netherlands colleagues Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo his flying start to life on Merseyside shows he's not just good but great.
The Dutch midfielder was hailed as 'one of the biggest talents in Europe' by Bayern's former sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic upon completing his £21million move from Ajax last summer.
But having made just six starts for the Bavarians, Gravenberch sought pastures new and Liverpool swooped to land their long-term target.
He joined the Reds on transfer deadline day for £34m and he has already made five starts for his new club, registering two goals — double the amount he managed during his entire Bayern tenure.
Gravenberch scored in his best performance to date as Liverpool thrashed Toulouse 5-1 and Jurgen Klopp warned that there is plenty still to come from his new starlet.
“A good player, huh? I told him when he came off, nice player! I’m so happy for him that he starts really enjoying his football again,” Klopp told TNT Sports.
“You can see it. His first touch is incredible, how strong he is in tight spaces. He’s not even halfway where he can be, but it’s really promising.
“He has a lot of things to improve, that’s really good news. He’s really young and there’s much more to come. Really good.”
“I really like him as a boy and as a player. It’s nice to see how much he is starting to believe in himself again,” added the Liverpool manager.
“That’s really important. Lots to improve still which is good. There is so much more to come and that’s good.”
Gravenberch, above the four midfielders Liverpool signed this summer, has benefited
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