Liverpool remains an appealing prospect for players and could go a long way in the Champions League this season, with one Brighton star eyeing up a transfer move in the future
Brighton attacking midfielder Brajan Gruda.(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Brighton attacking midfielder and talented German youth international Brajan Gruda says he wants to play for a top European team like Liverpool in the future.
Gruda is yet to fully ignite in the Premier League, but the 21-year-old is highly rated and eyeing bigger things later in his career, having joined a club renowned for developing stars and selling them on for a big profit.
Since signing for Fabian Hurzeler around 18 months ago, Gruda has scored four goals and provided eight assists in 45 games. He played very well against Liverpool in a win for Brighton at the Amex Stadium at the back end of last season.
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“My biggest dream is to play in the Champions League and be a full international,” Gruda told Sky Germany. “I want to play for a top club like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Liverpool.”
Bayern Munich was interested in Gruda when he left Jurgen Klopp’s old team, Mainz, but he chose to go to England instead, signing for a fee of around $37 million (£27 million).
“The deciding factor for me was that the club and the manager wanted me,” Gruda explained.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler.(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
“That was a very good sign when I arrived. I was very impressed with the training facilities, the staff, and the manager. That’s what led me to come here.”
Liverpool could do with some more depth in the center of the field and Gruda is a technically gifted player. However, there are more immediate priorities for Arne Slot’s men to address.
Extremely light of defensive options, a center-back is a must in the summer, if not now, and Liverpool could do with more speed and power in wide areas too.
However, there is a very small chance of anything changing in the transfer market before the end of the January window, with movement expected to take place in the next window.
Germany youngster Brajan Gruda.(Image: Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
“We as a club always make decisions that we, at least, think [are] smart decisions,” Slot explained this week. “So, we not only look at the short term, we also look at the long term, longer term.
“That’s why we sign young players as well, very good players but young ones that can still develop. Now we can see this development with a few. And it always depends on if there are players available that we think can help us.
“And if they are, can we afford them? And does this also be helpful for the longer-term future because our players come back from injury as well?
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“I just said we don’t have a squad where we have four right-backs and 12 midfielders and three or four No.9s — that’s not how it works over here. So, we have to do the smart things for the near future but also for the longer future.
“Let’s first see how Jeremie [Frimpong] is. Maybe he’s not able to play Saturday but maybe he’s able to play one or two days later. We now go into a schedule with one game a week, so that would usually mean less injuries but you’re never sure.”
Liverpool.com says: Gruda is a potentially great player. He glides with the ball and has the advantage of being left-footed. He is similar in style to someone like Martin Odegaard. Before he gets a Champions League move, though, he needs to take quite a few steps forward in his development and consistency.