Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has named Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as the player he would want his old club to sign. Neville expressed this view during an appearance on The Overlap podcast, highlighting Manchester United‘s urgent need for midfield reinforcements.
Gravenberch joined Liverpool in August 2023. He was part of a midfield restructuring that also included the signings of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo. Under Arne Slot, Gravenberch transitioned into a No.6 role.
Neville’s transfer pick
Neville indicated that if he had to choose a player from Andoni Iraola‘s team, he would select Gravenberch. He 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.”
Manchester United has been actively seeking to strengthen their midfield this summer. The club recently confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m. Additionally, they are reportedly close to signing Aston Villa‘s Youri Tielemans after activating his £35m release clause.
Neville also commented on Liverpool‘s attacking players, suggesting that while they possess potential, he would not swap them for Manchester United‘s Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, or Amad. He noted that the Liverpool forwards “have not proved it yet.”
The former England international also reflected on managers he would have liked to play under. He singled out Jurgen Klopp, praising his football style and personality. Neville described Klopp‘s Liverpool teams as admirable, even for a rival, highlighting their aggressive backline and electric attack during a period when Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino were at their peak.
Liverpool had a challenging campaign following their Premier League title success under Arne Slot in his debut season, which ultimately led to the Dutchman’s departure in May. The club had invested significantly in their squad, with new signings amounting to around £446million, but some arrivals reportedly did not meet expectations.
Manchester United also made substantial investments ahead of the 2025/26 season, spending approximately £200million to bolster their attack with players like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo. However, the midfield remains a key area of concern, identified as a priority following Michael Carrick‘s appointment as head coach.
Klopp’s managerial style praised
Neville further elaborated on his admiration for Klopp, stating that for several years, it was impossible not to admire the Liverpool team, despite his rivalry with the club. He noted that watching Liverpool under Klopp always promised a proper game of football, characterised by their relentless attacking intent and speed.
He specifically mentioned the devastating front three of Mane, Salah, and Firmino, and the aggressive backline featuring Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Alisson as the goalkeeper. Neville concluded that the style of football and Klopp‘s personality made him the manager he would have most liked to play for.
The last player to have played for both Liverpool and Manchester United was Michael Owen, who won the Premier League title and League Cup during his time in Manchester.
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Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk