Sometimes, all it takes is one big-money transfer to send the dominoes tumbling.
A £20 million deal between Ajax and Bayern Munich – Voetbal International say the Bundesliga champions are on the verge of announcing Ryan Gravenberch’s move to the Allianz Arena – will send ripples through the transfer market. All the way from the cobbled canals of Amsterdam to Glasgow’s East End.
Because any lingering hopes Christopher Scott has with regards to forcing his way into Julian Nagelsmann’s first-team plans will be extinguished by the arrival of one of the most promising young midfield players anywhere in Europe.
19-year-old Scott shares a few things in common with a player dubbed ‘a better version of Paul Pogba’. Stylistically speaking, at least.
Bayern Munich will sign Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax
Like Gravenberch, the Germany U19 international is at his most devastatingly effective when picking up possession in his favoured advanced midfield role, driving at the opposition backline before lining up long-range shots or weaving his way through packed defences with an intuitive one-two or a mazy dribble.
He’s been compared to Kai Havertz. But, while the Chelsea star continues to blossom into something resembling a traditional number nine, Scott is thriving in a deeper role for Bayern’s second-string.
The teenager even produced seven goals and six assists in 2021/22.
Scott, who joined Bayern from Bayer Leverkusen, made his Bundesliga debut under Hansi Flick during 2020/21. He has not kicked a ball in anger under Nagelsmann, however. That is despite Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso’s injury issues.
With his contract expiring this summer – and Scott understood to be pondering his future amid a potential £250,000 move to Celtic (Daily Record) – Gravenberch’s impending arrival could be the deciding factor that makes up his mind.
The new Kai Havertz?
As one supremely-talented attacking midfielder arrives, another younger, lesser-known player packs his bags, dreaming of regular first-team football in green-and-white Hoops.
Fabrizio Romano, the all-seeing oracle of football transfers, claims that Gravenberch will sign a five-year deal. The Dutch international will follow in the footsteps of former Ajax team-mate and Bayern newbie Noussair Mazraoui.
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
“Gravenberch? Definitely! It would be tough job for him because there’s a lot of competition at Bayern,” Erik ten Hag tells Sport1.
“He can certainly adapt to such a high level of quality as at Bayern. You saw that in the Champions League too, because that’s where he always played his best games.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
