Arne Slot reveals how Ryan Gravenberch ended Martin Zubimendi transfer race with one 'special quality'

Ryan Gravenberch has been a shining light in Arne Slot's Liverpool this season with the Dutch star benefitting from the change in manager last summer.

Gravenberch arrived as a deadline day signing from Bayern Munich in August 2023, but he was used sparingly by Jurgen Klopp, with just 12 Premier League starts in his debut campaign.

Klopp's exit has seen a fresh tactical change implemented by Slot, with a remoulded midfield, which has allowed Gravenberch to flourish.

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Deployed as part of a two-man deeper midfield (the double No.6 system favoured by Slot), alongside Alexis Mac Allister, has unlocked the 22-year-old.

He has started all 21 of Liverpool's EPL games in 2024/25, matched only by Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk, alongside all of their six UEFA Champions League wins.

Gravenberch's rise to prominence comes in stark contrast to his position just six months ago as Slot openly pursued Real Sociedad playmaker Martin Zubimendi.

With Liverpool prepared to activate Zubimendi's £51m ($62m) release clause with La Liga, the player changed his mind at the last minute, to remain in San Sebatian.

Slot has previously dismissed the chance of a revived effort to sign the 25-year-old with Arsenal now rumoured to be tracking him.

Missing out on Zubimendi was a public blow for Slot, but he outlined how Gravenberch has more than filled the gap, as part of a new-look engine room at Anfield.

"The [No.6 roles] are important to me, they are especially important for our attackers," as per TNT Sports.

"We have to make sure these players can effectively get the ball to our forward players. To do that, you need two sixes who can bring the ball to them. With Macca (Mac Allister) and Ryan, we have two players who can bring the ball to Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

"I even think the player we wanted to bring in (Zubimendi) — I think that’s pretty much in the open now — was also a player who was really comfortable in that role. He’s a player who can bring the ball from the last line to our forwards.

"Ryan has a special quality: he's the ability to turn away from his man. He's one of a few holding midfielders, who can create an overload by a dribble. Most of these players pass a lot, but to create an overload by a dribble, you don't see that much."

A look at his deeper numbers underlines just how crucial the former Ajax man has been so far in 2024/25, as the leading EPL midfielder for interceptions in open play (36), and the highest percentage of aerial duels won across all positions (77%).