Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch identified for potential Manchester United transfer

By Oliver Harrington — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

Neville’s transfer suggestion

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has identified Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as a player he would want his old club to sign. Neville expressed this view during an appearance on The Overlap podcast, stating that Manchester United are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements. His comments come as Manchester United continues to seek to strengthen their squad, particularly in midfield, following the appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach.

Neville indicated that if he had to choose a player from Andoni Iraola’s team, he would select Gravenberch. He elaborated on his choice, suggesting that Gravenberch is the best among a few midfielders he considered. This perspective highlights a perceived gap in Manchester United’s current midfield setup, despite recent transfer activity.

Manchester United has already been active in the transfer market, confirming the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea. Additionally, the club is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, having activated the Belgian’s release clause. These moves underscore the club’s focus on rebuilding its midfield.

Gravenberch’s recent form and contract status

Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool in August 2023 as part of a significant midfield overhaul that also saw the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo. Under Arne Slot, Gravenberch became a key figure in the team. During Jurgen Klopp’s final season, the midfielder made a limited number of Premier League starts. However, a shift to a No.6 role under Slot saw him thrive in Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League-winning campaign, where he featured in 37 of Liverpool’s 38 games.

Despite Neville’s interest, Gravenberch is currently under contract at Anfield until 2032, making a potential move away from Liverpool highly unlikely. His strong performance in the recent season has solidified his position within the Liverpool squad.

Liverpool had invested substantially in their squad, with new signings amounting to around £446 million. However, some of these arrivals reportedly did not meet expectations, contributing to a decline in performance and ultimately leading to Arne Slot’s departure in May.

Neville’s broader managerial and player assessments

Beyond his transfer suggestion, Neville also offered his thoughts on other players and managers. When asked about which manager he would have most liked to play under, the former defender immediately named Jurgen Klopp. Neville expressed admiration for Klopp’s football philosophy and personality, even acknowledging his strong dislike for Liverpool as a club.

He described Klopp’s Liverpool teams as consistently playing an aggressive and electric style of football, particularly highlighting the period when Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino were at their peak. Neville praised their devastating attacking play and the aggressive backline featuring Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson as the world’s best goalkeeper.

Regarding other players, Neville considered various options but ultimately settled on Gravenberch for Manchester United’s midfield. He also commented on Liverpool’s forwards, acknowledging their potential but stating he would not swap them for players like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, or Amad, as he believes the Liverpool attackers have not yet fully proven themselves.

Manchester United also made significant investments ahead of the 2025/26 season, spending around £200 million combined on attacking players including Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo. This focus on strengthening the attack occurred while the central midfield remained an area of concern for the club.

Neville’s comments underscore the ongoing transfer discussions and strategic planning within both Manchester United and Liverpool, as both clubs continue to evaluate their squads for future campaigns.

The former England international’s remarks were made during a Q&A session for The Overlap.