FC Barcelona may have been forgiven for thinking their midfield looked stacked on paper going into the 2025/26 season, but just a few months in, it looks wafer-thin, with all the injury issues they have suffered.
Against Celta Vigo, Hansi Flick had just one fit pivot, Frenkie de Jong, and had to play two number 10s, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, alongside him, with the former in a deeper and unfamiliar role. Marc Bernal, despite recovering from his ACL injury, is not considered ready for many minutes.
A defensive midfield reinforcement might be needed, and this is where Ryan Gravenberch comes in. Barcelona were linked with a potential move for the Liverpool midfield star last week, without many details being revealed.
Now, according to Fichajes, Barcelona is preparing a €50 million offer to sign the Dutch midfielder from the Anfield club and bring him to the Spotify Camp Nou, where he could partner with his international teammate Frenkie de Jong.
Gravenberch was very highly rated when breaking through at Ajax, but a failed move to Bayern Munich followed, which saw his stock fall off a cliff. Liverpool took a chance on him, and to say that it has paid off would be an understatement.
Arne Slot has reinvented Gravenberch as a defensive midfielder. He now plays as a number 6 at the base of midfield, and his quick feints to escape pressure are reminiscent of Sergio Busquets. This is not to suggest that he is at the same level.
However, a €50 million offer is unlikely to please Liverpool. The Merseyside club is an excellent negotiator and sells only when the price suits them, as seen with Luis Diaz last summer. If Barcelona are keen on signing Gravenberch, they need to increase their offer, which is quite unlikely considering their financial situation.
There does not seem to be much going for this deal at present, but let us wait and see how things shape up in the coming months.