The KLOPP Team takes a look at players Jorg Schmadtke and Liverpool could target in the Bundesliga this summer
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has opened up on the possibility of Liverpool returning to the Bundesliga later this transfer window – with the 59-year-old insisting the German market is “my home” and therefore “easier”.
The Reds have already made a play in the German top flight this summer with the £60 million signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. The 22-year-old Hungary captain became Liverpool’s second arrival after he followed in the footsteps of Alexis Mac Allister, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion three weeks after the Premier League season concluded.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany earlier this week, Schmadtke – who signed a one-year deal to succeed Julian Ward at the end of the season, but holds the option of an exit at the end of August should either party wish to do so – admitted he is comfortable scouring his homeland for deals. He believes that is helped by his existing relationships with his peers at various Bundesliga clubs.
“Of course there are always players in Germany who are attractive,” said the former Fortuna Dusseldorf, SC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper.
“Then my experience on the market is in demand. Because of course I know a little bit about how payment is made, how the other side proceeds in negotiations. The German market is my home market and for me easier for me, of course. But it’s not like we’ve all pointed our telescopes to Germany.”
But which players could Liverpool possibly target in the Bundesliga this summer? Here the KLOPP Team takes a look…
Ryan Gravenberch
After just one season at Bayern Munich, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has found himself continually linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena this summer. The 21-year-old found game time hard to come by last term and accumulated less than 1,000 minutes of action under managers Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.
Earlier this year it was claimed that Gravenberch’s agent had met with Anfield officials as the midfielder looks to kickstart his career with regular game time. And speaking about his lack of minutes at Bayern, Gravenberch said: “Training and playing at the top level for a year is beautiful and instructive. Although playing, it is mainly training. That has to change next season, then I really want to play weekly again.
“I haven’t spoken to the club management yet, so just wait and see what happens. But it is clear that this role does not match my expectations.”
Gravenberch’s contract in Bavaria runs until 2027, and the ECHO understands Liverpool have been keeping tabs on him.
Manu Kone
Although perhaps not as heavily linked with a move to Anfield as Bundesliga peer Ryan Gravenberch, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone has been a name regularly on the lips of Liverpool supporters in recent weeks.
Linked alongside international team-mate Khephren Thuram, the pair were touted as two acquisitions that could lay the foundations for Liverpool’s midfield overhaul this summer.
However, after sustaining a knee injury during the European Championship finals last month, Kone now finds himself expecting to stay at Borussia Monchengladbach for the forthcoming campaign.
But it remains to be seen if the situation at the Liverpool end could change – especially with the expected departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard and Leon Goretzka
As the Thomas Tuchel era continues to take shape with his first pre-season in charge of the Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to overhaul some of their most decorated stars.
It means Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard and Leon Goretzka could find themselves on their way out of the Allianz Arena this summer.
On Monday, the German publication Kicker labelled Kimmich as no longer “unsellable” while the former Schalke 04 midfielder’s career at Bayern appears to be hanging in the balance.
Such claims prompted Liverpool to be linked with a swoop, with Kimmich proving both at club level and on the international stage that he can play in both a right full-back role and a holding midfield one.
Meanwhile, Goretzka, 28, has been touted as someone who could be the ideal stop-gap solution for Jurgen Klopp’s diminishing midfield.
Pavard, however, is seemingly a player Bayern Munich are ready to cash in on this summer just four years after he made the move to Bavaria. Earlier this week The Athletic claimed the defender was a target for Manchester City should Kyle Walker move in the opposite direction.
