Liverpool is looking to sign FC Mainz’s majestic winger Brajan Gruda for the upcoming season. Under contract until 2026, the 19-year-old German international has experience playing alongside Liverpool loanee Sepp van den Berg and he could be available for as little as $22 million.
Gruda who recently finished his first full season of senior football in the Bundesliga with four goals and three assists is reportedly being pursued by several clubs.
But what specifically would Gruda bring to Liverpool?
He ranks second for Mainz in terms of goals per ninety minutes and third overall. Gruda’s dribbling is his most notable skill. In terms of successful takeaways per ninety minutes only Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala beat him in the other two categories.
Gruda has dribbling stats that are even better than those of well-known players like Vinicius Junior and Luis Díaz.
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According to the FBRef scouting report, Gruda is comparable to players like Nico Williams, Takefusa Kubo, Kingsley Coman, Karim Adeyemi and Jadon Sancho. Liverpool finds him to be a desirable prospect due to the similarities that highlight his skills and potential.
Gruda’s abilities may especially look appealing to new Liverpool manager Arne Slot who at Feyenoord prioritized dribbling in his attacking strategies.
Feyenoord under Slot has averaged 9 points and 4 carries into the box per 90 minutes this season second only to Manchester City in the top five leagues in Europe.
Gruda’s remarkable ball-carrying statistics indicate that he could flourish even more in a team like Liverpool which averages significantly more touches in the final third especially given that Mainz averaged only 46. 1 percent possession.
Where Gruda would fit into Liverpool’s current lineup could provide a problem though. He plays mostly as a right winger where Mohamed Salah is the dominant player. Besides, he might prevent young players like Ben Doak from developing as a result of his arrival.
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Gruda has played in both a front three and a 4-2-3-1 formation at Mainz reflects Slot’s use of formations. Due to his versatility, Liverpool may find him to be a useful addition to the team.
To sum up, Brajan Gruda is a player to keep an eye on given his abilities and potential. His ability to dribble and his attacking contributions could make him a valuable asset who may be headed for a big move soon.
