Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch’s sensational form has made the collapse of the Martin Zubimendi transfer look like a mild inconvenience rather than big setback
Ian Wright has sent Liverpool a six-word seal of approval following the Martin Zubimendi transfer saga. The Spain star was on the brink of joining the Reds in the summer, only to have a last-minute change of heart and remain with Real Sociedad.
It was seen as a major blow to Arne Slot’s plans at the time but three months on, Liverpool fans are asking ‘Martin who?’ thanks to Ryan Gravenberch’s superb form in the midfield anchor role. Gravenberch had a mixed first season at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp following his move from Bayern Munich.
However, he has excelled under Slot, emerging as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders so far this season. The 22-year-old’s impact was discussed on the latest edition of The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by SkyBet, with the panel branding him one of the surprise players of the season.
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Wright said Gravenberch’s form has been akin to a new signing, asking: “How much has he saved Liverpool? They were getting ready to buy Zubimendi, but Gravenberch has come in and locked it [that position] off.”
Gary Neville agreed with Wright, saying: “He’s been unbelievable. They may still go for another holding midfield player [in the transfer window]. But going for Zubimendi and then him [Gravenberch] going in there and playing like he has, he’s been incredible.”
Gravenberch’s form is no surprise to team-mate Cody Gakpo, who told Men in Blazers he had no doubts about his fellow Dutchman’s ability in that key position.
He said: “We [Liverpool’s Dutch contingent] knew Ryan already from the Eredivisie when he played at Ajax, and I think everybody knew already that he is this good. He made a move to Bayern Munich and maybe he didn’t play that much over there, but still everybody in Holland knew how good he could be when he was playing.
“And I think maybe the manager also knew this. At the beginning of the season he put him in a slightly different position but he gave him the confidence to play there.”
Meanwhile, Anfield legend and pundit Steve Nicol reckons the Reds even owe their position at the top of the Premier League table to Gravenberch. The Scot told ESPN: “We’re basically looking at a team who looked as though they had a big hole in the middle of the park that had to be filled.
“They tried to make a couple of signings in that particular area, didn’t work out and so Gravenberch started. Absolutely I would argue that, without Gravenberch, Liverpool might not be top of the league.”