Liverpool are now reportedly ready to hand a new contract to a player who captain Virgil van Dijk has described as “unbelievable”.
Last season, the Reds had the futures of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah hanging over them, threatening to act as a distraction.
Now, Liverpool need to try and tie down Ibrahima Konate to a contract extension, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.
The Frenchman is far from the only player who the Reds need to look at when it comes to contracts, though, and now a big update has emerged regarding Ryan Gravenberch.
According to talkSPORT‘s Alex Crook, Liverpool are “ready” to hand the Dutchman a new long-term deal at Anfield as reward for his superb current form, in a huge boost for Arne Slot.
Tying down Gravenberch vital for Liverpool
A new contract for Gravenberch has to be considered priority business for Liverpool, with the 23-year-old one of the best midfielders in the world currently.
He has become one of the first names on Slot’s team sheet, with Van Dijk lauding him after his star turn in last weekend’s 2-1 win at home to Everton:
“It’s not just this season, he’s been playing like that from the moment last season started. He’s unbelievable. He’s very important to the way we play. For me personally, you see the amount of times I try to look for him [for a pass]. It benefits him, me and the team. He’s in incredible shape. He’s in the form of his life. He has to keep going. He’s still young. The expectation level will always be right up there and that’s what he has to try to reach every three or four days. It’s a nice challenge.”
Losing Gravenberch at any point in the near future would be an enormous blow for Liverpool, so they have to do all they can to ensure that he remains a key man at the heart of the midfield for many years to come.
The Netherlands international can continue to blossom into a truly world-class footballer, both in and out of possession, and he merits being handed the terms that he wants in his new deal, with his current contract expiring in the summer of 2028.
