Liverpool dream transfer deadline day involves £30m swap deal, Gravenberch move done and key issue addressed

Liverpool will be hoping for a smooth transfer deadline day this year, with one deal already firmly in the pipeline.

The Reds are set to complete a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch on Friday, with the Dutch midfielder having jetted into England to go through a medical.

Should that medical be passed, the 21-year-old will put the finishing touches on a move that will see him join Liverpool for a fixed fee of £40 million, as per The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Gravenberch will become Liverpool's fourth summer signing, and fill a valuable role in the midfield due to his versatility. The Netherlands international can play as a defensive midfielder or right-sided central midfielder, with that versatility believed to be a key reason behind Jurgen Klopp's desire to bring him to the club.

Aside from the Gravenberch deal, Liverpool may also look to strengthen at centre-back after allowing Nat Phillips to join Celtic on loan until January.

The Reds have been linked with a move for 23-year-old Rennes defender Arthur Theate. The Belgian is left-footed, and scored four goals in 35 appearances for the French club last season.

French outlet L'Equipe claim that Rennes value Theate at £30 million - but are also interested in signing Liverpool's Joel Matip if he does leave the club.

That could open up the possibility of a swap deal for Klopp, although whether he would be prepared to allow Matip's experience to walk out of the door is another matter.

But Theate would provide strong backup for Virgil van Dijk on the left side of defence, allowing Joe Gomez to potentially move over to the right side to cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold if necessary.

While Gomez put in mixed performances in that role last season, fellow right-back Conor Bradley has not made a matchday squad this season. And Calvin Ramsay is currently on loan at Championship side Preston North End, where he is currently injured and has yet to make his debut as a result.

The signing of Theate would at least give Klopp a number of options, with Gomez likely to replace Van Dijk in the short-term while the Dutchman serves a ban following his sending off against Newcastle.