James Pearce reveals Liverpool have held 'positive' talks with Ryan Gravenberch's camp over Anfield move

Liverpool held positive discussion’s with the father of one of their key targets, according to the Athletic’s James Pearce.

While the Reds have pulled out of the race to sign Jude Bellingham, Jurgen Klopp has still been tipped to undergo a midfield rejuvenation this summer.

The Athletic have claimed the club are in the hunt for at least two, and possibly three, midfielders in the coming transfer window.

Indeed, discussions have reportedly been carried out by Liverpool’s senior recruitment staff in recent weeks to determine who would be available of the players they’ve tracked, and what fee would they command.

There will also be several departures with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all on course to be out of contract, while Arthur Melo will head back to Juventus after an injury-stricken season-long loan.

Liverpool hold positive talks with Gravenberch’s father

The Merseyside club have been linked to the likes of Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo in the past few weeks alone.

Another player thought to be of interest to Liverpool is Bayern Munich’s Gravenberch, and according to Pearce, the club have held “positive” talks with the 20-year-old’s father, Ryan Snr.

Liverpool’s representatives allegedly met with Ryan Snr in the Netherlands earlier this month.

The player is frustrated by his lack of playing time at Bayern, having made just one Bundesliga start so far among 28 appearances. In turn he is allegedly open to the idea of moving to Anfield this summer.

However, according to Pearce a major hurdle is convincing Bayern to do business, with the Bundesliga side currently insistent he is not for sale.

Moreover, Gravenberch would command a sizeable fee. Bayern signed him for a just £22million last summer, and given his ability, would want a sizeable profit on that fee.

The player had been on Liverpool’s radar long before a disappointing campaign in Germany and should he sign the Reds’ Virgil Van Dijk could play a key part.

The Netherlands captain convinced Cody Gakpo to ignore interest from elsewhere and sign for Liverpool in January, and he could be involved in convincing another international team-mate to be part of Klopp’s re-build.