Gary Neville Names Ryan Gravenberch as Manchester United’s Ideal Midfield Target
Gary Neville has identified Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as the player Manchester United should sign to bolster their current squad. His blunt assessment highlights the persistent gaps remaining in the United lineup.
United invested heavily before the 2025/26 season, spending approximately £200 million to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo. While these additions improved the attack, the midfield remained neglected. Since Michael Carrick’s appointment, addressing this area has become the team’s primary objective.
Neville clarified his stance when discussing potential targets for the club. He noted, “There’s a few but it’s harder because Wirtz isn’t exactly jumping out at me, Isak isn’t jumping out at me, Ekitike yeah, Dominik Szoboszlai maybe…”
“I’d go with Gravenberch. If you said to me, “United, now, who would I take?”, I’d take Gravenberch probably. He’s the best of the three midfielders that United would need and we need a midfielder desperately.”
Manchester United Prioritize Midfield Reinforcements
Control, physicality, and composure remain the most pressing needs for United’s midfield. Neville views Gravenberch as the perfect fit for these requirements. The Dutch midfielder possesses a strong ability to carry the ball and cover significant ground, providing a necessary presence in the center of the pitch for a team still working to rebuild its structure.
The current state of Liverpool makes this endorsement particularly noteworthy. After winning the Premier League title under Arne Slot in the 2024/25 season, the club struggled significantly in 2025/26, leading to Slot’s dismissal on 30 May 2026. Despite an expenditure of roughly £446 million on new players, many of those signings failed to make an impact. However, observers still consider Gravenberch a genuine asset.
Gravenberch Emerges as Key Liverpool Asset
Neville also expressed little interest in Liverpool’s current attacking options. He stated, “The [Liverpool] forwards are good but I wouldn’t probably swap them over Mbeumo, Cunha, Bruno, Amad… I don’t think I’d be jumping at taking any of them. I think they’ve got potential to go and do brilliant things but they’ve not proved it yet so I’d go with Gravenberch.”
This assessment likely settles the matter for now. Because Gravenberch remains under contract at Anfield until 2032, a potential transfer appears highly unlikely. Liverpool holds no incentive to sell, and Manchester United acknowledges this reality. Nevertheless, the point remains that if the goal is to resolve United’s most significant weakness with a Liverpool player, Gravenberch stands out as the clear choice.