Latest news with #RyanGravenberch
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool lose star midfielder due to BIZARRE twist
Liverpool are planning to be fit and raring to go for the start of their title defence in August. Transfer moves are being completed over these next few months and in July, the players will reconvene for a pre-season tour of Japan before building up their training for the new season. Advertisement New tactical blueprints will have been created by Arne Slot over the summer and he will be desperately hoping that he has a full squad of players to choose from when August rolls around. However, one player has been confirmed to be unavailable for the start of the season already and it's nothing to do with their fitness. A bizarre part of the Premier League rolls prohibits his participation. © IMAGO Ryan Gravenberch to miss the season opener On Wednesday June 19, the date that every football fan has in their diary rolled around - it was Premier League fixture release day, allowing fans to theorise how difficult their team's chances of winning the title might be, depending on a tough start, a tough run-in or strategic fixture choices. Advertisement In our own world, the fact that you would play a rival at home or away first makes an enormous difference as to whether the team will have enough momentum to come away with a win. First up for the reigning Champions is Bournemouth, who will be visiting Anfield on Friday 15th August, which should ordinarily be a straightforward start. The Cherries will be missing Dean Huijsen, and supposedly Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi from their defensive ranks due to transfers. However, Gravenberch will be absent from the Reds, despite his long-term commitment to the side. Of course, you will be asking, 'how can this be?'. Well, it's because he got a red card during our last game of the season against Crystal Palace, and while yellow cards don't carry over, red ones do. Advertisement The challenge he put in was deemed 'a professional last man foul' which might otherwise be known as 'denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity' (DOGSO) which is a one match ban according to the FA as supposed to 'serious foul play' or 'violent conduct' which incur more serious suspensions. You might also now be thinking, 'can't he serve it during the Community Shield?', and the answer to that is sadly no, he can't. Had there have been an FA Cup game to be played prior to the season, then potentially this could've avoided it, but the powers that be have decided that this can't happen. As such, he will be missing the Bournemouth game indefinitely and Slot will have to plan for his absence accordingly. Although we have been aware that he would be missing the opening game of the season for some time; the specific opponent was unknown, however. Now we know the damage. Generally speaking this shouldn't be a problem. While the Dutchman was incredibly impressive last season, the squad has more than enough to cover him. But it just goes to show, one error to try and make sure the team didn't finish the season with a loss, has left us a man-short to start off with again.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Liverpool transfer news: Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and more
Liverpool are bracing for a busy summer to build on this season's Premier League title success. Arne Slot orchestrated a stunning debut campaign at Anfield, inheriting a stacked squad from Jurgen Klopp before taking English football by storm to seal a record-equalling 20th top-flight crown for the club. Mohamed Salah was the posterboy of Slot's title winners, with an eye-watering 46 goal contributions in 37 games taking the Reds out of reach at the top of the table. However, it was in midfield where Liverpool surprised most, with Slot refining a midfield trio brought in by his predecessor and making each one of them an invaluable entity. His transformation of Ryan Gravenberch from a promising yet raw talent to a world-class defensive midfielder was most astounding, with the 23-year-old starting all 34 league games before Liverpool sealed the title against Spurs. The summer months of 2024 hardly shaped the season that followed for Liverpool, and Slot has already proven that he doesn't require overwhelming transfer activity to be successful. Last summer, he saw just two arrivals come through the door in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili (who was immediately loaned back to Valencia) and Federico Chiesa, who played a total of just 104 minutes in the Premier League. But with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading for the exit and a Premier League title to defend, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards were expected to engage in a substantial recruitment drive over the coming months. And the early signs are extremely promising for Reds fans, with Jeremy Frimpong having signed from Bayer Leverkusen and Florian Wirtz soon to follow after Liverpool agreed a £116m deal with the German side. Areas to improve As tends to happen with champions, Liverpool are position-for-position the strongest team in the Premier League. But that is not to say they don't have room for improvement. Their first priority will be to address weaknesses - or vacancies - in the full-back roles. Right-back and local lad Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid following the expiry of his contract, though it looks like Liverpool have already found their replacement in the form of Frimpong. At left-back, Scottish stalwart Andy Robertson has looked shaky and could be set for a drop down the pecking order. Robertson, once the world's best in his position, has been something of a liability this term, and he has been attracting attention from Atletico Madrid. Deputy Kostas Tsimikas could also be on the chopping block, further emphasising the need for reinforcements. A younger, Premier League-proven replacement appears to be desired, with Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth seemingly set for a move worth around £45m. Further depth in midfield could also be required if Slot is to successfully defend his title. The futures of Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and more recently Harvey Elliott have been up in the air, which could lead to Liverpool investing in more forward-thinking options this summer. Potential targets Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen Not exactly a 'potential' target since Liverpool agreed a deal for the German superstar. Another star of Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen side, attacking midfielder Wirtz, 22, had been attracting the attention of Europe's biggest hitters for some time now, though the Reds beat off competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to all but seal a deal that could end up being the most expensive in Premier League history. Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth Kerkez has starred for the Cherries this season and seems to have been picked out as the rightful heir to Andy Robertson at left-back. Liverpool are said to be in talks with Kerkez, 21, who could be about to join compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield. The marauding defender fits Slot's system well and could be valued around £45m. Alexander Isak With much of the rest of the squad seemingly in top shape ahead of 2025/26, Liverpool continue to be linked with a range of strikers. Alexander Isak has been touted as the club's 'dream' target, though with Newcastle having qualified for the Champions League it is seen as unlikely that they let their star player leave. Nevertheless, Reds fans can hope – Isak has transformed into one of the best strikers in world football in recent months, and his signature would certainly make Liverpool favourites for back-to-back league titles (and probably a European Cup to add to it). Hugo Ekitike This is seen as a somewhat more realistic signing for Liverpool, with the Frankfurt striker supposedly allowed to leave for around €100m. While Liverpool would be unlikely to spend that amount on the 22-year-old given his experience, some reports suggest that he could be available for something closer to £65m. Though Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested, it is assumed that the Reds would be able to convince Ekitike of the obvious merits of choosing Anfield over Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. The young Frenchman has scored 22 goals in all competitions for the German side this season, and is widely seen as ready to take the step up to a top side. Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart Liverpool have found joy when fishing at the Stuttgart well for defensive midfielders before. They will hope highly-rated German star Stiller, 24, will follow in Wataru Endo's suit and swap the MHP Arena for Merseyside. The former Bayern Munich prospect has been at the heart of their midfield for the past two seasons and helped Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League in 2023/24. Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid An outside shout is ex-Manchester City forward Alvarez, who proved his worth as a top talent at the Etihad. He has taken off since he ditched being second fiddle to Erling Haaland, having enjoyed an impressive year since his £82m switch to Atletico Madrid last summer, scoring 29 goals and providing six assists in all competitions. His form may have peaked the interest of Liverpool, who are in the market for forward reinforcements. Darwin Nunez plus cash swap deal, perhaps? Current squad Goalkeepers 1. Alisson Becker 62. Caoimhin Kelleher 56. Vítezslav Jaros 95. Harvey Davies Defenders 2. Joe Gomez 4. Virgil van Dijk 5. Ibrahima Konate 21. Kostas Tsimikas 22. Calvin Ramsay (loaned out) 26. Andrew Robertson 46. Rhys Williams (loaned out) 47. Nathaniel Phillips (loaned out) 78. Jarell Quansah 84. Conor Bradley Jeremie Frimpong (squad number unknown) Midfielders 3. Wataru Endo 8. Dominik Szoboszlai 10. Alexis Mac Allister 17. Curtis Jones 19. Harvey Elliott 38. Ryan Gravenberch 43. Stefan Bajcetic (loaned out) 80. Tyler Morton Forwards 7. Luis Díaz 9. Darwin Nunez 11. Mohamed Salah 14. Federico Chiesa 18. Cody Gakpo 20. Diogo Jota 50. Ben Doak (loaned out)
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Gravenberch makes Liverpool claim after winning titles in three countries
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is "hungry for more" after claiming Premier League title this season with the Reds and has Champions League dream Ryan Gravenberch is aiming for a Champions League winners' medal to add to his growing collection. The Liverpool midfielder enjoyed a starring role in the Reds romping to the Premier League title this season. The Dutch midfielder has now won league titles in Holland with Ajax, Germany with Bayern Munich and England with the Merseysiders. Now he wants European glory under Slot while also has ambitions of winning a major tournament with his country. 'There's so much I still want to achieve,' Gravenberch told Numero Netherlands. 'I've been lucky enough to win league titles in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, but as a player, you're always chasing more. 'That hunger never goes away, and I feel that every day. I'm only 23, so I know there are many years ahead, and big moments still to come. Winning the Champions League is a massive dream of mine, that's one I haven't ticked off yet. 'And of course, to achieve something special with the national team, a Euro or even a World Cup, that would mean everything. There's still a lot to aim for, and that's what keeps me going.' Gravenberch, 23, joined Liverpool in the summer of 2023 but didn't really shine in his first season at the club under Jurgen Klopp. Yet last term under Arne Slot he thrived in a new No 6 role for the club and played a huge role in their title-winning success. 'I've been lucky to play for three historic clubs – Ajax, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool – and honestly, each one is the biggest in its country, ' said Gravenberch. 'It's been a real privilege. These are clubs and cities where football runs deep. The fans live for it. They expect everything from you, and when you put on that shirt, you feel the weight of that. It's something I never take for granted. 'To be honest, I think they're more alike than people realise. Big clubs demand a certain mentality, that winning mindset. There's a culture around them, built over the years, that's all about success. On the pitch, off the pitch – it's just who they are.' Liverpool won title No 20 this season and it sparked unreal scenes of celebration on the red half of Merseyside with the day the Reds beat Tottenham to clinch the title a standout for the Dutch midfielder. He added: 'It was honestly something really special, a season I'll never forget. The scenes on the bus as we approached Anfield before the Spurs game, that afternoon we won the league, will stay with me forever. 'The passion on the fans' faces, the red flares, the noise, the songs, just seeing what it meant to them, it gave me goosebumps. That image will never leave me. The celebrations with the lads afterwards, that moment when it really hit us that we'd done it, was incredible. Liverpool's second Premier League title in five years, and my first. 'From my point of view, as a small child, you dream of these moments, so to achieve this is really special. I'm proud to have played a part in what was an unforgettable season. And now, we're already looking forward to next season. We're hungry for more.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Reds closing in on Wirtz - so what now?
With Liverpool set to shatter their transfer record for Florian Wirtz, fans are overjoyed at the prospect of watching the diminutive playmaker represent the what now?Wirtz plays in Wirtz takes up a place in Arne Slot's midfield, someone has to miss out. It is unlikely to be Ryan Gravenberch given his rise into the anchoring role, which means Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister become two share similar stats, with Szobozslai creating more 'big' chances across the season, and serving up more goals and are combative but Mac Allister outshines the Hungarian in this area. In 2024-25, Mac Allister won 48% of his duels to Szoboszlai's 43%. The Argentine was also more accurate with the ball when in the opposition half, completing 86% of his passes compared to 83% in the case of his midfield what do you value more? Creative output, or battling qualities and passing poise?It is remarkably close and in truth hard to imagine either missing out. Perhaps, if Wirtz is to play in midfield, he, Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szobozslai will rotate based on fatigue and circumstance. Mac Allister's ability to also play in the anchoring role will add to the do you think Wirtz will play if the transfer gets over the line? Tell us here Wirtz plays as a false wide areas are under lock and key. Mohamed Salah holds the right side, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo offer variety on the left - assuming they both stay. Diaz's sublime goal for Colombia against Argentina in this international window underlined the ingenuity he brings, while Gakpo - so often called to the touchline by Slot for the sharing of information - is invaluable in a multitude of season, Gakpo made nine headed clearances - more than any player listed in the article - and his duel success at 51% comfortably outstrips those of course, has played centrally too, boosting the variety available to is it indeed the centre-forward role where Wirtz will be deployed? A false nine position - dropping to receive passes, creating room for runs into central spaces for the likes of Salah, Gakpo and would be a style Kopites have seen before, when Roberto Firmino built his legacy by retreating from forward positions into areas where he could link play, thus allowing the relentless Salah and Sadio Mane to prosper from wider output of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez perhaps points to the central-attacking area being the one where Liverpool lack a man in decision will be fascinating. The qualities of the players available to him once the Wirtz deal gets over the line lend themselves to flexibility and fluid changes of expected Wirtz move has thrilled fans. The question now is from what area of the pitch he will he try to thrill them once wearing the red of Liverpool?How will Slot use Wirtz in his team if German joins? Have your say here
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Soccer-European game generated 38 billion euros in 2023-24 season, study shows
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 25, 2025 Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch is shown a red card by referee Darren England REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo (Reuters) -Europe's soccer market grew by 8% in terms of revenue in the 2023-24 season to 38 billion euros ($43.46 billion) with England's Premier League generating the most, Deloitte said in a study published on Wednesday. In its Annual Review of Football Finance, Deloitte said the top five leagues -- Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1 -- generated 20.4 billion euros in revenue, an increase of 4%. Premier League clubs had the highest revenue of Europe's top leagues at 6.3 billion pounds ($8.50 billion). However, the traditional 'big six' clubs in England's top flight reported lower average revenue growth (3%) than other clubs that were in the Premier League in both the 2023-24 and 2022-23 seasons (11%). The study said the growth was largely driven by expansion of clubs' commercial offerings, which also led to the teams cumulatively generating more than two billion pounds in commercial revenue for the first time. "A focus on stadia development and diversification of commercial revenues led to growth across the European football market in the 2023-24 season," Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said. "However, clubs and leagues cannot afford to take their eye off the ball as new challenges, including an evolving regulatory landscape and changing fan behaviours, arise. "The pressure is mounting for more clubs to drive additional revenue at the same time as managing rising costs. "More so than ever, leaders and owners must recognise the great responsibility they have of managing these businesses, capturing the historic essence of a football club while honouring its unrivalled role as a community asset for generations to come." Clubs in Europe's 'big five' leagues reported an aggregate operating profit (0.6 billion euros) for a second successive season, while the aggregate wages/revenue ratio fell from 66% to 64%. WSL REVENUE SOARS Clubs in England's Women's Super League (WSL) jointly generated revenue of 65 million pounds in the 2023-24 season, a 34% rise. Each WSL club had a double-digit increase in revenue, while all 12 clubs reported over one million pounds in revenue for the first time, with an average revenue of 5.4 million pounds. "Through developing more robust fan engagement strategies, strong commercial deals and securing central distributions, WSL clubs unlocked a new phase of growth," Deloitte Sports Business group's knowledge and insights lead Jennifer Haskel said. "Plus, as the reporting and attribution of commercial revenue remains inconsistent between clubs, we may be scratching the surface on the value now being generated by the women's game." ($1 = 0.7409 pounds) ($1 = 0.8743 euros) (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
