Manchester United have reportedly made a late enquiry regarding the possibility of a move for Bayern Munich starlet Ryan Gravenberch.
What’s the word?
According to Miguel Delaney, the Red Devils are believed to have made contact with the Bundesliga giants over a potential deal for the 20-year-old, albeit with the Bavarian outfit seemingly resistant to letting the Dutchman depart.
Writing on Twitter, the respected insider stated: “United also asked about Gravenberch but Bayern reluctant.”
In his attached piece for The Independent, Delaney also outlined that United are also interested in signing the youngster’s midfield colleague Marcel Sabitzer.
Dream Sabitzer alternative
While it does appear that the aforementioned Sabitzer is a potentially more attainable target for the Old Trafford outfit, signing Gravenberch would surely be a dream alternative, with the highly-rated “world-beater” – as lauded by Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan – having worked under Erik ten Hag previously at Ajax.
With the United boss likely wanting to bring in a player who can make an instant impact on the team, it may well make sense to secure the services of someone who is familiar with his tactical setup and shape, with Gravenberch having scored 12 goals and laid on 13 assists in 102 games during his time under Ten Hag in Amsterdam.
The 6 foot 3 sensation also provides the benefit of having been compared to compatriot Frenkie de Jong in the past, with the current Barcelona man having been a high-profile target for the Premier League outfit in recent months.
The £156k-per-week maestro would likely be able to bed into the United squad quickly, having played alongside the likes of Antony and Lisandro Martinez at club level during his time in the Eredivisie, while he will also be familiar with his international colleagues Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst.
That connection should again ensure that the 11-cap playmaker is able to make a rather smooth transition to life at the Theatre of Dreams, having also been compared to a player of the club’s recent past, with youth coach Brian Tevreden describing him as a “better version” of Paul Pogba.
Throw into the mix Gravenberch’s youth in comparison to Sabitzer – who is 28 – and there is the potential for him to become a long-term asset for Ten Hag and co if he were to remain in Manchester beyond the end of the season, making him an ideal alternative to the Austria international.
