Twenty-two-year-old Ryan has been linked with a big money January move from Belgian outfit Club Brugge to Liverpool after goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones haven’t quite fit the bill for the Reds this campaign.
Ryan hasn’t done his chances of a transfer any harm with some impressive Asian Cup performances, his heroics late in last Saturday’s clash with Korea Republic keeping Australia in the game, even if the Socceroos eventually lost 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium.
But as Ange Postecoglou prepares his side for Thursday’s quarter-final clash with China in Brisbane, Ryan knows he cannot afford to let such thoughts distract him if Australia are to bounce back from that loss.
“It’s obviously nice to be associated (with Liverpool),” said Ryan on Melbourne radio station SEN on Tuesday morning.
“I guess at this stage it still is a dream because it’s not the reality just yet.
“But if I continue to work hard - I’ve always had that attitude - and keep my head down, hopefully something bigger and better isn’t too far around the corner and I can fulfil that dream.
“But I’ve been around the game and had a bit of interest and all that in my career thus far, to know that you put that in the background and let my agent worry about it.
“That’s why you obviously have an agent to look after those sort of things and I can just fully concentrate on my role here with the Socceroos and hopefully helping the team become champions of Asia.”
Ryan’s manager, Mikkel Beck, has told Goal.com that any move would be unlikely until next summer.
"Playing in the Premier League would be of interest to Mat as it is one of the best leagues in the world,” Beck said. “Knowing how ambitious Mat is it is the kind of league he would like to play in.
"He is happy at Brugge, but if concrete interest comes we will sit down and have a discussion."
Ryan said the dodgy condition of the Suncorp Stadium pitch probably hampered Australia’s style of play in Saturday night’s loss to Korea Republic, even though a video review session by Postecoglou identified other failings.
“We created a number of chances but just didn’t have the composure at the end of the day to put the ball at the back of the net,” Ryan said.
“I think our crossing from wide areas was a little bit off. There was a few times we got into some good areas and the final pass and the final bal into the box let us down.
“That’s football sometimes, you have good days and you have bad days where you lack a bit of luck, but I’m pretty confident that the match the other night was a bit of a tough one and that’s what going to come in these remaining games and I think we’re going to be all better for that performance.”