Ryan Gravenberch admits that he is aware of reports linking him with Premier League giants Liverpool but says his priority is to fight for his place at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
As you might have heard, the former Ajax playmaker endured a bit of a sluggish start to life at the Allianz Arena.
Ryan Gravenberch started just three Bundesliga games under both Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann. As such, reports linking him with a move away from Bavaria were always likely to emerge; Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle among those mentioned in the press.
That the subject of Liverpool was brought up during Gravenberch’s De Telegraaf interview this week, meanwhile, reflects the fact that Jurgen Klopp’s side are the side most closely associated with a man so often compared to a young Paul Pogba due to his combination of physical and technical gifts.
“I’ve read that too,” Gravenberch says in relation to those Liverpool rumours.
Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch an option for Liverpool
Bayern, however, have no intention of letting a player they invested so heavily in just 12 months ago leave so soon. At least, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Those questioning Gravenberch’s lack of minutes may, perhaps, be missing the point. With Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka edging towards 30, with Thomas Muller a fading force and Marcel Sabitzer clearly not considered a starter, maybe the plan was always to bed Gravenberch in slowly before handing him a much larger role in his second season.
“It may be that there are plans with me,” the player himself muses.
“I haven’t really talked to the coach (Thomas Tuchel) about that yet. That will come after the (Under 21) European Championships. Then we will see how it is.”
“I just want to play more. Preferably at Bayern Munich. Otherwise, at a club where I play 100 per cent. That is my preference.
“Because I don’t want to have another year like the one I’ve had now. One season like that is good, I really learned a lot, but I just want to play football.”
The fast-paced nature of the Bundesliga should suit a player of Gravenberch’s skillset; strong but silky, athletic but elegant.
Dutch legend Rafael van der Vaart, meanwhile, sees no reason why Gravenberch cannot emulate the success of a man who sealed his initial £88 million move to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
“What I think is the big difference (between the two players); Bellingham is at a club a step lower (at Borussia Dortmund) and always plays,” Van der Vaart tells Ziggo Sport.
“I think Gravenberch is better than him, in every way. Especially physically.”
Liverpool may have already moved on from Gravenberch already, anyway, Fabrizio Romano reporting that talks are scheduled with the agents of Khephren Thuram (Nice) and Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach).
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