Ryan Gravenberch has been suggested to repeat the instance of a compatriot who’s performed in a World Cup remaining.
The 22-year-old joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich final 12 months and has been included in Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024, however he’ll be hoping to enhance on his tally of 12 Premier League begins from his first season in England.
Rafael van der Vaart spoke to Voetbal Worldwide about how the Reds’ quantity 38 may take his sport to the following stage, steering him within the path of an ex-Manchester Metropolis participant.
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The previous Tottenham man mentioned: “I counsel Ryan to go for a job as a defensive midfielder. That won’t be a simple alternative for him, as a result of he can do rather more. You possibly can evaluate it with Nigel de Jong prior to now.
“Nigel may do rather more than the subservient controller he finally turned, however in that particular position he reached an absolute prime stage. Nigel determined he was going to be a pitbull and that’s it.
“Ryan can be very versatile and I like to recommend him to make the same alternative in a job like Patrick Vieira as soon as performed at Arsenal and France.”
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Is there logic to Van der Vaart’s suggestion that Gravenberch seeks to ascertain himself as a quantity 6 at Liverpool?
It’s a place wherein he’s already performed 19 occasions in his senior profession, with a type of cases coming within the Reds’ Europa League go to to Union Saint-Gilloise final December (Transfermarkt).
Ought to Arne Slot envisage the 22-year-old adopting a defensive midfield position, he could possibly be a significantly youthful various to Wataru Endo within the Anfield engine room.
The truth is, through the 2023/24 season, Gravenberch made extra interceptions (1.12 to 1.05) and blocks (1.6 to 1.26) per 90 minutes than the Japanese enforcer, additionally posting a greater sort out success price (41.4% to 32.8%) and recording extra ball recoveries per sport (5.92 to five.65) than the 31-year-old, as per FBref.
That would present the brand new head coach with meals for thought, however whether or not or not he takes Van der Vaart’s recommendation stays to be seen.
A World Cup finalist in De Jong wouldn’t be a nasty instance in any respect for the 22-year-old to observe – aside from kicking the mercurial Xabi Alonso within the chest, after all!
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