Dutch legend Marco van Basten believes Liverpool would be the wrong move for Bayern Munich benchwarmer Ryan Gravenberch amid claims that the former Ajax starlet could end up in the Premier League.
During a disappointing debut season at the Bundesliga champions, Gravenberch has not started a single top-flight game. Under Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Julian Nagelsmann, the £21 million playmaker has featured in a grand total of 23 minutes.
So, with the future of arguably Dutch football’s greatest hope very much up in the air, Van Basten has understandable concerns about seeing Gravenberch join another club where first-team action would not be guaranteed.
“I already said it last year; He left (Ajax) too early,” the three-time Ballon D’Or winner tells Ziggo Sport.
“Those guys go to the big clubs way too quickly. They think they are quite something. But with those kinds of clubs you enter the dressing room and they all say; ‘Let’s see it.’ You really have to prove yourself.
“Your fellow players see you as a rival. A lot of Dutch people underestimate that.”
Liverpool and Arsenal like Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch
A la Manchester United’s Marcel Sabitzer and Leeds’ Marc Roca; Gravenberch could now move to the Premier League in an attempt to kick-start his career again. Sky say that Arsenal are interested. As are a Liverpool side attempting to restructure their midfield on a budget.
Gravenberch, who could earn £200,000-a-week at Anfield, would cost a fraction of the fee Borussia Dortmund are demanding for Jude Bellingham, per The Mirror. But, according to Van Basten, Liverpool would be another bad move from a man who’s reputation has taken quite the kicking over the last 12 months.
“(Liverpool is) much too big,” Van Basten adds. “First, go and play football somewhere where you can always play.”
It must be said, however, that Liverpool’s midfield is not quite as iron-clad and settled as Bayern’s. An ageing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho would, in theory, be easier to dislodge than Joshua Kimmich or Leon Goretzka.
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