Martin Zubimendi forgotten as Liverpool handed new £45m transfer vindication

discussion as Ryan Gravenberch’s skyrocketing value is a consequence of Martin Zubimendi rejecting the club

Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool is challenged by Emile Smith Rowe

Ryan Gravenberch dictating play for Liverpool against Fulham

When Martin Zubimendi said no to Liverpool over the summer, it seemed to be a massive blow. Little did anyone know Ryan Gravenberch was preparing his emergence to become one of the team’s most integral members.

Even prior to Arne Slot’s arrival there was one clear transfer mandate for the Reds – to complete their midfield rebuild. It had started with over £140m-worth of signings the summer before and seemingly needed a long-term defence-minded asset as the final piece of the puzzle.

Zeroing in on Zubimendi it appeared the search was almost at an end, until he U-turned on the switch from boyhood club Real Sociedad and left Liverpool in the lurch as for what to do. It was ultimately decided no alternative would be sought as Slot got to work with the existing members of his squad, and what a choice that turned out to be.

Another player of the match performance to help salvage a draw against Fulham on Saturday cemented Gravenberch as one of the first names on the Liverpool teamsheet at present. Usually it is clinical tackling and playing on the half-turn that are recognised, though in his latest performance he showed more dimensions to his game by dropping deeper into

Now the latest recognition of the 22-year-old’s comes from Transfermarkt, who have awarded him with the steepest increase in estimated value of any Reds player. He is now apparently worth €55m (£45.6m) – increased from the €40m (£33.1m) Liverpool paid Bayern Munich on summer 2023 deadline day – a boost of £12.5m.

Of course Anfield chiefs will not be wanting to cash in on their talented midfielder, but at the end of the day monetary value is just one key measure of how good a footballer is at their job.

Gravenberch has therefore become the joint-seventh most valuable Reds player on Transfermarkt’s database, alongside Mohamed Salah. He is also only five shy of Zubimendi’s €60m (£49.7m) valuation.