A former Dutch legend has pushed Ryan Gravenberch to take on a new role for Liverpool ahead of Arne Slot’s arrival at Anfield.
Liverpool are ready for one of their biggest summers in a decade, with new manager Arne Slot charged with rebuilding Anfield this summer.
Jurgen Klopp and his staff have left Anfield, and a new manager will take over for the first time in nine years. Slot was highly successful at Feyenoord, and there is anticipation that he can be successful in England.
Ryan Gravenberch, a fellow Dutchman who joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich last summer, has struggled since his arrival.
Van Der Vaart discusses Gravenberch’s new role.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart spoke with Dutch site Voetbal International about the former Ajax player and believes he should take on a new role.
“I advise Ryan to play as a defensive midfielder,” Van Der Vaart remarked. “That will be a difficult decision for him, as he is capable of much more. You might compare it to Nigel de Jong in the past.
“Nigel was far more capable than the submissive controller he eventually became. However, in that particular capacity, he performed at the highest level. Nigel opted to be a pit bull, and that was it. Ryan is likewise quite versatile, and I encourage him to make a similar decision. In a role similar to what Patrick Vieira has held at Arsenal and France.
Gravenberch first broke through at Ajax, where he played more box-to-box and shared many qualities with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
Gravenberch’s Decision
With a new manager joining the club this summer, it is extremely likely that he will want to bring in his own players and establish a new identity for the club, which the Dutch midfielder may not fit.
Gravenberch’s move deeper into a more defensive role could be an important choice, given the Reds’ lack of defensive midfield alternatives at the moment.
Gravenberch may be able to build a claim for that role in the team now that VfB Stuttgart loanee Wataru Endo has returned to the German side.
