Ryan Gravenberch has admitted that he is not happy with his role at Bayern Munich as Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal eye up the Bundesliga benchwarmer.
The only difference between Gravenberch and Jude Bellingham – according to Dutch legend Rafael Van der Vaart – is that one plays week-in, week-out in Germany’s top flight while the other twiddles his thumbs on the substitute’s bench.
Bellingham helped fire Borussia Dortmund into top spot on Saturday; his 11th goal of the season coming during a 4-0 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Gravenberch, earlier in the day, managed just a few minutes as Bayern stumbled to a 3-1 defeat at Mainz. In fact, since arriving in a £21 million deal from Ajax, the Netherlands international has started just once in the Bundesliga.
And while Gravenberch insists that he will ‘wait’ for his chance, his patience is clearly running low.
Liverpool and Arsenal eye Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch
“In the beginning, of course, I had to get used to it here. A new environment,” the 20-year-old tells Voetbal International.
“Everything goes so much faster. Sometimes training sessions just felt like matches. It’s top of European football. You can’t miss a moment. But I feel that getting used to it has been behind me for a while now.
“Training and playing at the top level for a year is beautiful and instructive. Although (I am) mainly training. That has to change next season. I really want to play weekly again.
“I haven’t spoken to the club management yet, so just wait and see what happens. But it is clear that this role does not match my expectations.”
Bayern reportedly have little interest in selling Gravenberch this summer. A short-term loan move may appeal to both player and club, however; Sky Sports reporting that a player once dubbed ‘better than Paul Pogba’ is excited by the prospect of a summer switch to Liverpool.
Arsenal are reportedly in the race too. The Gunners have enjoyed some success, too, when signing seldom-seen youngsters on loan from European giants. Martin Odegaard, once of Real Madrid, could still become the first Arsenal captain since Patrick Vieira to lift the Premier League title.
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