Liverpool’s new fab four! Jurgen Klopp completes £145m rebuild of his midfield with the arrivals of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Endo to replace Saudi-bound veterans Henderson and Fabinho

Let’s talk about six, honey. That was the famous phrase coined by Jurgen Klopp when Liverpool won their sixth European Cup in Madrid, a play on the Salt-N-Pepa hit Let’s Talk About Sex. Four years later, the story of the Reds’ summer term is about sixes.

Their protracted hunt for a number 6 – a midfielder favoring those who prefer traditional language – has seen them publicly miss out on two top goals, scramble to sign a little-known 30-year-old and ultimately reached the last two. hours of Deadline Day, let it look light in the central areas.

But with one hour and fifteen minutes left in the England transfer window, Liverpool finally published the official announcement: Ryan Gravenberch has joined from Bayern Munich. At last Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmatdke had their man.

The Dutch midfielder completed the fantastic four midfield reinforcements for Klopp and Co, following the arrival of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo. Three of the four signings are aged 24 or under and Liverpool’s midfield now looks fresh.

It didn’t take a football expert to see how desperate the Merseyside club was for rebuilding. Although they finished fifth last season after a late rise in form, the midfield has often been blamed for a hugely under-par season.

And so Klopp approved the departure of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, while they went on loan for Fabio Carvalho. But in mid-summer they were rocked by two unplanned exits as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left for Saudi Arabia.

Henderson’s departure sparked major debate after the Englishman betrayed those in the LGBTQ+ community by renouncing previous alliances as one of the few high-profile male players to support gay people. A football-related debate soon ensued over what Klopp’s side lost.

While Henderson and Fabinho had seen better days on the pitch – neither reached their best level last season – the pair’s departure left Liverpool incredibly light in midfield and they entered the new season without a recognized midfielder.

Endo represented smart business with £16.2 million, but was clearly not the No. 6 club’s first choice, following public pursuits of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. As it stands, Liverpool have got four midfielders for not much more than Chelsea paid for Ecuadorian Caicedo.

“We pretty much had to reinvent the team, the midfield will be like this and completely new, in recent years we’ve had to do the same with our front line,” said Klopp, who is reportedly delighted with the new signings. they lacked the appeal of Champions League football.

‘We have become younger, but we had to. We have less experience, but that is normal, but we are full of desire. I like this team. Age is not a problem. These players have already played many matches at a very high level.

“I know it’s been ages, but in Dortmund we became the youngest champions ever and a year later the second youngest champions ever, as the team was a year older. That’s not a problem, it didn’t stop us then and it won’t stop us now.’

Based on three league appearances this season, Szoboszlai seems to be one of the best transfers of the summer. Unlike lengthy sagas for a defensive midfielder, Szoboszlai finished quickly, joining only three days after Liverpool started talks.

Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke is believed to have been key to much of the summer’s activities, with it notable that three of the German’s four signings have come from Bundesliga clubs. Jose Fortes Rodriguez, the right-hand man of former super-agent Mino Raiola, was also influential.

In the six final departures this summer, Liverpool lost 1,776 Premier League games. But all the new boys, despite their young age, have considerable experience. Endo and Szoboszlai are captains of their national teams, Japan and Hungary respectively.

Mac Allister has won a World Cup and played a vital role in Argentina’s success. People close to the former Brighton man say he is “like a bulldog” during training. Gravenberch, although it did not work out at Bayern Munich, played more than 100 times for Ajax.

Klopp likes Gravenberch for his versatility and the Dutchman will play in midfield. It completes the reconstruction of the midfield. “Ryan knows he needs to improve things, but he’s 21, it would be crazy if he wasn’t,” the manager said.

“But he’s super talented, he can control the ball, he can be a box-to-box threat. He has a good eye for a pass and a good pass. I said before, we have a big challenge to reinvent one of the most successful midfields this club has ever had, and I really like that.’