Thomas Tuchel explains why Ryan Gravenberch wants Liverpool transfer
- Liverpool have agreed a fee to sign Gravenberch
- Gravenberch has spoken openly about his frustrations at Bayern
- Bundesliga side are chasing Fulham's Joao Palhinha
By Tom Gott
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has confessed Ryan Gravenberch wants to join Liverpool to play in his preferred midfield role.
A long-term target for Liverpool, Gravenberch is now on his way to Anfield after the two clubs agreed a fee of €40m (£34.2m) for the Dutch international.
The 21-year-old has publicly admitted his frustration towards his limited minutes in Munich - just six starts in all competitions since joining from Ajax last summer - and Tuchel has now confessed he struggled to find a place for Gravenberch in his preferred tactic.
"He's an attacking player, I see him as an eight," Tuchel told a press conference. "The main problem for him is that we don't have that specific position at the moment.
"The competition is fierce in the offensive line, with three half-forwards and the ten. There are many players who have more competitive experience than Ryan. He struggles with this situation.
"In Liverpool, he sees an opportunity to fight for a spot as an eight in a 4-3-3 that comes closest to his qualities and his ideas.
"If a player expresses the desire to leave over a long period of time, then we will of course deal with it. Nothing is done yet, but the trend is clear."
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Liverpool have been hunting for more midfielders ever since Jordan Henderson and Fabinho's surprise exits to Saudi Arabia left them short in the position.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were signed earlier this summer and the midfield rebuild was expected to finish there, but further moves have been required and Liverpool have already brought in Japan international Wataru Endo from Stuttgart.
Gravenberch is now heading for his medical ahead of becoming the fourth midfield addition at Liverpool this summer.
As for Bayern, they are also looking to add another midfielder who fits better into Tuchel's preferred 4-2-3-1 setup, with Fulham's Joao Palhinha emerging as their top target.
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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss whether Mohamed Salah could actually join Al Ittihad from Liverpool, Bayern Munich's hunt of Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, the ongoing Sofyan Amrabat to Man Utd saga & more!
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