{"id":293704,"date":"2023-11-01T05:54:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T05:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=293704"},"modified":"2023-11-01T05:54:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T05:54:02","slug":"liverpool-have-special-star-helping-jurgen-klopp-forget-bellingham-transfer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/liverpool-have-special-star-helping-jurgen-klopp-forget-bellingham-transfer\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool have ‘special’ star helping Jurgen Klopp forget Bellingham transfer"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\u2018Special\u2019 Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch is helping Jurgen Klopp forget about the Reds\u2019 failed pursuit of Jude Bellingham. Gravenberch was Klopp\u2019s final summer signing and has already settled into Liverpool\u2019s new-look midfield after his \u00a334million switch from Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n

Klopp made sweeping changes to his team\u2019s core ahead of the season, reacting to a campaign in which the Anfield outfit lacked energy and finished a lowly fifth. Gravenberch and fellow summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai have injected the dynamism and spark that was missing last term.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman\u2019s addition came with its intrigue. He had failed to acclimatise at Bayern Munich after a big-money move from Ajax in the summer of 2022, making only three Bundesliga starts.<\/p>\n

But Gravenberch is now thriving after finding a home at Liverpool. His biggest assets – driving runs from midfield, scoring and creating chances – are all comparable with Liverpool\u2019s No 1 summer target Bellingham.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Carabao Cup quarter-final draw details as Man Utd and Liverpool eye next round[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Liverpool pulled out of a deal for the England starlet early in the window, citing the extortionate cost of an agreement with Borussia Dortmund. The path was cleared for Real Madrid to seal a \u00a3100m transfer, while Liverpool waited until late in the summer to lure Gravenberch from Germany.<\/p>\n

Bellingham has enjoyed a remarkable start to life in Spain. The 20-year-old has scored 13 goals in as many games for the Spanish giants. Liverpool would have secured the best summer signing had they signed the former Birmingham talent.<\/p>\n

But Gravenberch has proved to be the best possible alternative. At 21, he shares a similar age profile to Bellingham and could be a key part of Liverpool\u2019s midfield for the next decade. It is unlikely that Klopp is still reeling over missing out on the latter.<\/p>\n

“We see the Ryan of Ajax,\u201d Klopp\u2019s assistant Pep Ljinders said on Tuesday. \u201cThat’s why the club is so important, a player who doesn’t play will never get confident. We know that a player without confidence is not the same.<\/p>\n