Liverpool step up interest in Bayern’s Gravenberch

Liverpool have moved to make Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch their fourth midfield signing of the summer with a formal approach for the player.

No bid has yet been lodged, but the start of talks is a significant advance in a deal mooted since the transfer window opened. Gravenberch was initially linked as a potential replacement for Fabinho. However, at Bayern he has always been seen as a No8, generally on the left side.

A fee of around £35 million may be enough to secure the Dutch international, who is understood to be keen to move to the Premier League and is attracted to Anfield, before tomorrow’s deadline.

Should he join, Liverpool will have replaced four of the five senior midfielders who have left since the end of last season: Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner.

Like those already added, including Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Gravenberch is versatile enough to evolve in different roles.

Liverpool have spent £107million so far in this window, recouping £52million through the sales of Henderson and Fabinho. They should receive more, with defender Nat Phillips a Celtic target. The club’s £111million bid for Moises Caicedo showed there are funds available for manager Jurgen Klopp.

Meanwhile, Liverpool remained firm in their stance that they would not accept any bids for Mohamed Salah in this window. It is too late to replace him and Liverpool are not interested in receiving offers or even discussing the possibility of Salah leaving.