Anfield Central understands that Liverpool want to sign Ryan Gravenberch but have been told that the player will remain at Ajax for at least another year.
Chelsea and Liverpool are both interested in signing Gravenberch but have been told that they will need to wait until the Netherlands wrap up their European Champions tournament before any approaches will even be acknowledged.
Mino Raiola is his agent but his father, Ryan Sr, is heavily involved in the decision making behind the scenes and he feels that his son owes Ajax at least one more year for their role in developing him and helping him become the player he is today.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – OCTOBER 21: Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax U23 during the Dutch Keuken Kampioen Divisie match between Ajax U23 v Utrecht U23 at the De Toekomst on October 21, 2019 in Amsterdam Netherlands. (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
A source close to the player’s father relayed a message to us when we asked about truth in suggestions he could leave the club this summer. We were told there is no truth in claims that the midfielder will move to Liverpool or any other club before 2022.
We were told by our source: “I can imagine Liverpool likes Gravenberch because he played well against them in the Champions League last season but Gravenberch will stay at Ajax for at least one more season, I’m totally sure about that.”
Ryan Gravenberch Sr previously told Ajax Showtime: “He [Ryan Jr] has to take that last step at Ajax. He just has to and he hasn’t done that yet. I want him to fully mature at Ajax, so as far as I’m concerned he will just stay at Ajax.
“He has only played one full season now and that was of course quite good, but next season he will have to play even better.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – JANUARY 19: Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax, celebrates his goal during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax v Sparta at the Johan Cruijff Arena on January 19, 2020 in Amsterdam Netherlands. (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
“I’m not going to push him to do that, that makes no sense to Ryan. But he also realises that. He also thinks it is best for him to stay at Ajax.”
Right now, Gravenberch will 100% stay at the Amsterdam Arena until 2022.
Another source close to Anfield Central with ties to Liverpool and not Ajax claims that there is a desire to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement now to sign him next year to beat the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona to his signature.
Liverpool are very keen on signing him and so are committed to finding a solution but as with any negotiation with Mino Raiola, it will not be straightforward but we will reiterate that there is zero chance he will move to Liverpool this summer.
ZEIST, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 31: Ryan Gravenberch of Holland U21 during the U21 MenArrival Holland U21 at the Hotel Oud London on August 31, 2020 in Zeist Netherlands. (Photo by Peter Lous/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Gravenberch stands at 1.9m and as Liverpool will have seen first hand in the Champions League group stages, he’s not afraid to put himself about and use his considerable size to win the ball before driving forward from midfield.
He’s very different from most of the midfielders in his age category and resembles the type of player that was more common in the late 90s and early 2000s but has the technical ability you’d expect from an Ajax Academy graduate.
