Liverpool could be about to face a surprise transfer dilemma after major FSG decision

It has been an inevitable consequence of Jurgen Klopp announcing his imminent Liverpool departure. And it will only get worse until the Reds confirm the German's successor.

With football unable to abide a vacuum, the space has instead been filled by an increasing amount of transfer speculation over the futures of the current Anfield squad.

That was most notably apparent in the immediate fall-out to the two recent results against Manchester United, where Liverpool's performances clearly merited better than a return of just one draw but were compromised by a succession of missed chances.

READ MORE: Liverpool could make shock new manager appointment as FSG stick to their word

READ MORE: Liverpool could make five changes against Fulham as Alexis Mac Allister decision nears

Within days, new Fenway Sports Group supremo Michael Edwards was apparently ready to ship Mohamed Salah off to Saudi Arabia, Luis Diaz was either heading for Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona, Liverpool were ready to cut their losses on Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo was simply being sent to anywhere but Anfield.

That it would have left the Reds with one senior striker was a trifling inconvenience. Liverpool had suffered a couple of disappointing results and, in the modern era, that was reason enough for the rumour mill to start decimating the squad in the next transfer window.

More recently, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with Real Madrid, Caoimhin Kelleher returning to the bench after Alisson Becker's comeback from injury has sparked claims the Republic of Ireland international will once again consider his future in the summer, while question marks have been raised over the Brazilian also.

Such rampant transfer speculation is, of course, nothing new. But with uncertainty continuing over the identity of Klopp's successor - Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon remains the favourite - such reports will gain a level of usually undeserved credence until the new appointment helps put them into any sort of context.

The most recent such transfer link, though, has shone the spotlight on a player who has experienced a curious few years in his career.

Reports in Turkey have claimed Galatasaray are ready to launch a concerted effort to sign Ryan Gravenberch and want the midfielder on board ahead of likely duty for Holland at the European Championships in June.

Given Gravenberch has spent less than eight months at Liverpool since arriving from Bayern Munich for around £35million on deadline day last summer, such talk should appear extremely premature. But it does underline an inconsistent first season at Anfield for the player.

After a difficult sole campaign in Germany where he made just six starts, Gravenberch initially revelled in the increased game time with Liverpool, particularly in the Europa League. His energetic desire to push forward and make probing runs seemed to suit the new-look midfield while the understandable rough edges - Gravenberch is still only 21 - were expected to soon be smoothed out.

However, once the initial adrenaline wore off, the unique demands of playing in a Klopp midfield in the intense Premier League arena meant the player began to deliver a series of underwhelming displays, whether as a starter or, perhaps more concerningly, from the bench. But he then appeared to have had a second wind before his revival was cut short by an ankle injury early on in the League Cup final against Chelsea in February.

Liverpool had been long-time admirers of Gravenberch from his days at Ajax, and Klopp has been keen to give him opportunities. Before his Wembley injury, the Holland international had appeared in all bar five games, three of which he was injured. That said, he has completed 90 minutes only once - the FA Cup win over Norwich City in January - and his longest stint in a Premier League match is the 83 minutes he managed at Luton Town and then at home to Fulham, who the Reds visit on Sunday.

And since returning to fitness more than a month ago, Gravenberch has made just one start against Sheffield United that lasted an hour following a very brief outing a few days earlier in the win over Brighton. Indeed, he has been an unused substitute for the last four games.

The increased competition for places in midfield with Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai back available goes some way to explaining the lack of recent action for Gravenberch. And having spent so long monitoring and then pursuing the Dutchman, it would seem strange for Liverpool to readily move him on after less than a year.

But until FSG confirm the next manager, speculation over such players is only going to grow and grow.