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Liverpool have managed to convince one of their key stars to stay at Anfield, despite interest from Real Madrid
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Liverpool will still have one of their key players at the club come the start of the 2025/26 season, despite some interest from Real Madrid. While the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are still relatively unclear, with the trio out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season, there's actually another member of Arne Slot's side who has been attracting attention from elsewhere. Real Madrid still seem interested in prising Alexander-Arnold away from Anfield, but they might have to cool their pursuit of one Liverpool midfielder. Though reports emerged earlier in the month that Real Madrid wanted to sign Ryan Gravenberch, the latest from Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg is that the Dutchman isn't even considering leaving Liverpool in the next year. Having become a key player of Slot's side, Gravenberch is performing extremely well and wants to continue with that trajectory for both club and country. A proposed swap deal for Aurelien Tchouameni has also been rubbished in the report, with Plettenberg highlighting there's no intention from Liverpool to pursue that deal. Signed from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 for £34. 2m, Gravenberch had to bide his time somewhat last term at Liverpool. Though he impressed on occasion and made 38 appearances in all competitions, he failed to establish himself as a regular starter in Jurgen Klopp's side. The arrival of Slot at Anfield has transformed his fortunes, however, with his manager utilising him in a deep-lying midfield position to great effect. Indeed, the 22-year-old has been one of the standout Liverpool players this season, with his form limiting any conversation about the Reds' failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi in the summer. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, it would've likely taken close to double that price for Liverpool to even consider letting Gravenberch leave. His contract still has over three years left to run, while his age suggests he has the potential to keep getting better and better. In Four Four Two's view, it's smart from Gravenberch to not move to Real Madrid - they already have Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga vying for a spot at the base of their midfield, with both players exceptional in their own right. Staying at Liverpool, where he's become a hugely influential player with the opportunity to win trophies, is the right call. Ryan is a staff writer for Four Four Two, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across Four Four Two, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with Four Four Two permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future. When is the Women's Super League returning? 'I don’t actually mind what he said - a change would do him a world of good': Roy Keane sympathetic to Marcus Rashford wanting a move away from Manchester United Tottenham to fix centre-back issues with top European defender: report Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©
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