The news arrived with almost the same stealth as the player gliding quietly through a packed midfield. And there was something refreshingly unusual about Ryan Gravenberch putting pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal.

Having grown accustomed to lengthy high-profile contract sagas in recent years, here was an agreement reached without much pomp and circumstance - and, mercifully, very little conjecture.

A six-year deal underlines Liverpool's continued faith in Gravenberch who, still aged only 23, remains some time away from his peak having already tucked a Premier League and League Cup under his belt.

The desire from both the player and his representatives to extend an Anfield commitment that began with his move from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 demonstrates the Holland international believes he is in the right place to develop and succeed.

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For Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, though, the hard work is only just beginning with...