European giants ‘leaning towards’ keeping €30m Liverpool, Man Utd target but boss ‘sanctions’ exit
According to reports, Bayern Munich are ‘leaning towards’ keeping Liverpool and Manchester United target Ryan Gravenberch this summer.
The Bundesliga giants paid around £20m to sign Gravenberch from Ajax last summer and at the time he was considered to be one of the best young midfielders in Europe.
Gravenberch’s career has stagnated over the past year, though. He only made six starts across all competitions for Bayern Munich during his debut season.
His lack of outings for Bayern have fuelled talk linking him with a move to the Premier League. Liverpool and Man Utd are both understood to be monitoring his station.
Gravenberch – who is valued at €30m by transfermarkt – was an unused substitute over the weekend as Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 4-0 on the opening day of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season.
The Athletic’s Bundesliga reporter – Raphael Honigstein – is under the impression that Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel “would sanction a move” but “the club are leaning towards keeping Gravenberch”.
“Ryan Gravenberch faces an uncertain future as Bayern Munich weigh up selling the 21-year-old,” Honigstein said.
“The Netherlands international is open to a move away from the Bavarian capital after seeing limited game time in his first season at the club.
“He started only three games and never played more than 45 minutes in a single match in 2022-23. Thomas Tuchel once again left him on the bench for the German champions’ 4-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday as well.
“While many of Gravenberch’s team-mates have praised his training performances and club officials believe that the former Ajax midfielder should be given more time, Tuchel has indicated that he would sanction a move.”
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“The 49-year-old is keen to use any proceeds for the signing of a specialist holding midfielder. Bayern, by contrast, don’t believe there’s an acute need for such a player after the arrival of RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer on a free transfer this summer.
“A final decision is yet to be made but the club are leaning towards keeping Gravenberch in the hope that Tuchel will find a way to integrate him before the January window, when the situation can be reassessed.”
TEAMtalk meanwhile are reporting that Gravenberch has ‘informed Bayern Munich that he wants out’. They add.
‘What’s more, his heart is set on moving to England. I understand the Dutch midfielder has told Bayern Munich he wants to move to the Premier League.
‘Tuchel will resist a sale, but Gravenberch is thinking ahead to the European Championships next summer and does not believe that his chances of featuring prominently for the Netherlands are best served by being on the bench at Bayern.
‘Both Manchester United and Liverpool have a long-standing interest in Gravenberch and I am told both clubs have spoken with his representatives in recent weeks as they consider him as an additional midfield signing.’
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