Manchester United and Liverpool have found themselves locked in a contest for Bayern Munich’s midfield sensation, Ryan Gravenberch. Both footballing titans from the north-west have proposed contractual terms to the 21-year-old, who previously showcased his skills at Ajax.
Having received word of Gravenberch’s intent to have crucial discussions with Bayern regarding his role under coach Thomas Tuchel, the clubs made their move. The German title-holders have reportedly placed a €25.7 million (£22 million) price tag on the young Dutchman.
However, a more feasible scenario sees Gravenberch heading out on a season-long loan. Despite Bayern’s earlier reluctance to let him go when approached by the English clubs, the player’s decision remained firm to stay. But, after being benched during key matches against RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen, he’s now reevaluating his stance. This situation has undoubtedly piqued the interest of both Erik ten Hag and Jurgen Klopp.
In a recent tug-of-war over Dutch prodigy Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, Liverpool emerged victorious. Yet, it’s worth noting Gravenberch’s rise to prominence at Ajax came under Ten Hag’s guidance, for whom he holds immense respect. The young talent clinched three Eredivisie titles and earned the Johan Cruyff Trophy as Holland’s top U-21 player in 2021.
Gravenberch is wary that his sporadic game time in Germany might jeopardise his spot in the Dutch national team for the upcoming Euros. Since his £16 million transfer from Ajax to Bayern in 2022, his international appearances have been limited. His limited starts in the Bundesliga further underscore this concern.
As the transfer window nears its close, Manchester United look to reinforce their line-ups, especially in midfield which looked lacklustre in their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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