Ryan Gravenberch's impending move from Bayern Munich to Liverpool will reportedly not be impacted by the German champions' failure to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham.
On Thursday, the Reds struck an agreement to sign Gravenberch in a £34.2m deal, and the Netherlands international has given the green light to a five-year contract.
Gravenberch is understood to have arrived in England earlier on deadline day to undergo his Liverpool medical, and Bayern were working to sign Palhinha as his successor.
A deal to bring the Portugal midfielder to Bavaria was seemingly nearing completion, as Fulham gave Palhinha permission to travel for a medical, while he also conducted pre-announcement media duties.
A fee of £65m was mooted, but Fulham and Bayern ultimately could not come to a full agreement before the German transfer window closed at 5pm, as the Cottagers failed to sign their own replacement.
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As a result, Palhinha will soon travel back to England to resume his career with Fulham, and there were fears that the collapse could have had a knock-on effect on Liverpool's move for Gravenberch.
However, esteemed journalist Paul Joyce reports that Gravenberch's Liverpool transfer did not hinge on Palhinha's future, and his move should still go through without any further roadblocks.
Jurgen Klopp refused to comment on Gravenberch's impending arrival in Friday's press conference, but Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that the Dutchman is Anfield bound.
Gravenberch will become the fourth new lynchpin to join Klopp's ranks this summer, following Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to Merseyside for the 2023-24 season.
The former Ajax man made a name for himself in his homeland under Erik ten Hag, earning a £15.8m move to Bayern in 2022, but he was only a bit-part player during his debut season.
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With Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka largely untouchable in the engine room, Gravenberch recorded just one goal and one assist in 33 matches, making a mere three starts in the Bundesliga.
The 21-year-old has also played just nine minutes in Bayern's opening three games of the 2023-24 season, and he was facing added competition for minutes in the middle from Konrad Laimer.
Gravenberch is expected to be the final player through the door at Anfield before the window slams shut at 11pm, as Klopp has played down his side's chances of bringing in another centre-back.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad are refusing to wave the white flag in their pursuit of Mohamed Salah, who has already been the subject of a failed £150m bid from Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League table thanks to their unbeaten start to the new season and are back in action at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Ben Knapton
