Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has named Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as the player he would choose to sign for his old club. Neville expressed this view during an appearance on The Overlap podcast, highlighting United’s urgent need for midfield reinforcements. Gravenberch joined Liverpool in August 2023 and was part of a significant midfield overhaul for the club.
Under Arne Slot, Gravenberch reportedly became a key player for Liverpool. In the 2024/25 Premier League-winning season, he featured in 37 of Liverpool’s 38 games, flourishing in a No.6 role after making 12 Premier League starts in Jurgen Klopp’s final season. Despite Gravenberch’s current contract at Anfield extending until 2032, making a transfer unlikely, Neville believes he would be a valuable addition to Michael Carrick’s squad at Old Trafford.
United’s Midfield Focus
Manchester United has been actively seeking to strengthen its midfield throughout the summer transfer window. The club recently confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea and is also reportedly close to securing Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans after activating his release clause. These moves underscore United’s focus on addressing their midfield concerns, a priority identified following Michael Carrick’s appointment as head coach.
Neville stated, “If you said to me now, I’d take Gravenberch because I think he’s the best of the three midfielders and we need a midfielder desperately.” He also considered other players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Dominik Szoboszlai but ultimately settled on Gravenberch as his preferred choice for United’s midfield.
While discussing Liverpool’s attacking players, Neville acknowledged their potential but indicated he would not swap them for United’s Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, or Amad Diallo. He commented that while Liverpool’s forwards are good, they “haven’t proved it yet.”
Neville’s Admiration for Klopp
In a separate discussion, Neville was asked which manager he would have most liked to play under, to which he promptly responded, “Klopp.” The 51-year-old expressed his admiration for Klopp’s football philosophy and personality, despite his long-standing rivalry with Liverpool.
Neville described Klopp’s Liverpool teams as consistently playing an exciting brand of football, particularly highlighting the period when Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino were at their peak. He noted their “electric in attack” style and the aggressive nature of their backline, including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson Becker, whom he considered the best goalkeeper in the world.
Neville’s comments underscore the impact Klopp had on the Premier League, even earning respect from rivals. Michael Owen is the last player to have played for both Liverpool and United, winning the Premier League title and League Cup during his time in Manchester.
Liverpool had a challenging campaign after their Premier League title success under Arne Slot, which reportedly led to the Dutchman’s departure in May. The club had invested significantly in new signings, with reports indicating spending around £446 million.
Manchester United also invested heavily ahead of the 2025/26 season, spending approximately £200 million combined on attacking players Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo.
Gravenberch joined Liverpool in August 2023 as part of a midfield rebuild that also included Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo.
His performances under Arne Slot saw him become a regular, featuring in 37 of Liverpool’s 38 games during their 2024/25 Premier League-winning campaign.
Manchester United is reportedly in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, following the activation of his release clause.
The club also confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea on Monday.
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Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”