Jorg Schmadtke is officially Liverpool’s new sporting director. Appointed on an initial short-term deal, which has the potential to become long-term, the German, whose contract extends beyond this summer’s transfer window, is set to start work at Anfield on June 1.
After an underwhelming, transitional campaign, which saw them fall short of Champions League qualification with an ageing squad, the Reds are facing their most significant transfer window since the summer of 2016 when they last missed out on Europe’s elite competition as a result.
Consequently, it is likely to be a busy summer for the 59-year-old as he replaces Julian Ward, with Liverpool plotting a midfield overhaul and Jurgen Klopp hinting that a new centre-back is also on his radar, at least.
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Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister remains the priority signing in midfield, with reports in his native Argentina suggesting he could become the Reds’ first arrival of the summer in a deal in the region of £60m. But, if completed, the World Cup winner will just be the start of Liverpool’s incoming business.
The Reds have also been credited with interest in Chelsea’s Mason Mount, with club sources insisting they are yet to be informed about the England international’s next move despite speculation that his new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, wants to keep him at Stamford Bridge, and suggestions that he favours a move to Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Liverpool also boast interest in Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, having previously missed out on the Dutchman’s services when he left Ajax in a £20m deal last year. Recent reports had suggested that the Bavarians have no intention of letting the Netherlands international leave the club, but Schmadtke’s arrival could actually aid the Reds’ efforts to sign the 21-year-old.
There have been suggestions that the Schmadtke’s appointment at Anfield could see Liverpool turn their attentions to the Bundesliga when it comes to their summer business. Given that Schmadtke has worked with a variety of German clubs over the past two decades, he is better-placed than most to judge the talents of those in Germany’s top-flight, and has already forged all the necessary relationships with such sides in his homeland.
When Reds interest in Gravenberch was first reported, it was suggested that Bayern had no intention of letting the midfielder leave the club despite the fact he had found game-time limited in his first season in Germany.
While the 21-year-old would start on the final day of the campaign as Bayern won 2-1 away at Koln to wrestle the Bundesliga title away from Borussia Dortmund, it was only the third start the Dutchman made in the German top-flight this season. Meanwhile, boasting 33 appearances in all competitions, he would total just 937 minutes of action after only starting six times for the Bavarians across the board.
Given this lack of action, Gravenberch is reported to be keen to leave Bayern this summer. Sky Sports would even report in April that, despite his club’s stance, he was ‘enthusiastic’ about the opportunity to steer his development back on track at Anfield, after Liverpool allegedly made a strong pitch to the player's representatives.
The same report claimed that Gravenberch’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, had explored loan options in January only for the Bavarians to block a mid-season departure. Meanwhile, she reportedly met with Liverpool at the turn of the year, having been spotted at Anfield in January, before the Reds are said to have made contact with Gravenberch's father, Ryan senior, in April who still guides his career.
Sky would also claim that while Bayern’s public position is that they won’t listen to offers, behind the scenes the club are open to the possibility of Gravenberch moving on, considering they are unable to offer him guaranteed game-time, providing they recoup the £20m fee - including add-ons - they agreed for him last summer, as well as a small profit. A fee in the region of £25m was touted by Goal last month.
Bayern’s stance has perhaps softened further after they dismissed both CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic following their Bundesliga win, with the pair believed to have been keen to keep the 21-year-old around next season and make him a more important player.
“The current situation of Ryan Gravenberch, he is one to watch. Bayern didn't want – with the past board, with Salihamidzic – to negotiate with any club for Ryan Gravenberch,” journalist Fabrizio Romano would claim on his YouTube channel.
"They told Gravenberch ‘Let's meet at the end of the season in June and discuss the future because Liverpool are interested’. But also other English clubs are interested in Gravenberch, including Man United, Arsenal, who asked for information in January.
“But Bayern's message was very clear. ‘We don't want to negotiate for Gravenberch, we will meet Gravenberch in June and [have been] communicating that he's going to be part of the squad, important part of the squad next season.’
"Now what's happening is that there is going to be a new board and they have to make a new decision for Gravenberch and that involves Thomas Tuchel."
Kahn will be replaced by current vice-chairman of the board, Jan-Christian Dreesen, while Salihamidzic's successor is still to be decided. Of course, the goings-on at Bayern don’t mean that Gravenberch will sign for Liverpool this summer. But with such uncertainty and speculation, the stage is set for a summer transfer.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old is a player that fits into the profile of signing that both Schmadtke and Klopp favour.
“Jorg finds managers that can make clubs better and players that managers can make better,” former Liverpool striker Erik Meijer, who was signed by Schmadtke for Alemannia Aachen in 2003, told the Daily Mail earlier this month. “And that is what Jurgen Klopp loves – players you can make better.
“He never wants the finished article, he much prefers being with those who know their best days are in front of them.”
Gravenberch is certainly that, with Liverpool not put off by the 21-year-old’s struggles in Germany. Goal reported that the Reds scouted the midfielder extensively at Ajax, and believe he has the skillset and physicality to thrive in the Premier League. Meanwhile, that touted £25m fee also leaves enough in the budget to move for the likes of Mac Allister and other targets.
At the very least, Gravenberch’s future remains up in the air. With Schmadtke now through the door at Anfield, Liverpool’s transfer business is set to ramp up a gear ahead of the transfer window officially opening on June 14.
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