Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has opened up on his admiration for Ryan Gravenberch amid claims Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool are preparing moves for the out-of-favour Bundesliga benchwarmer.
Both Marc Roca and Marcel Sabizer headed for England after failing to break up the Joshua Kimmich-Leon Goretzka partnership at the Allianz Arena. The same fate could now befall Gravenberch.
A £21 million signing from Ajax last summer, Gravenberch has not started a single Bundesliga game in 2022/23. Liverpool could take advantage; BILD reporting that Jurgen Klopp’s side held a meeting with the Dutchman’s camp this week after ruling themselves out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that Gravenberch also has admirers at Arsenal.
And, perhaps in an attempt to pour water on the speculation, Bayern boss Tuchel spoke out in support of the seldom-seen 20-year-old ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with a resurgent Hoffenheim in Bavaria.
Arsenal and Liverpool like Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch
“I see Ryan’s qualities in training,” Tuchel says, via Voetbal International. “He trains well. We see him as a ‘number eight’, who can turn very well and dribble very well.
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“He has to be patient. He has to seize the smallest chance in every training session.”
Gravenberch, who was labelled a ‘better version of Paul Pogba’ during his time under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, did impress off the bench during Bayern’s 1-0 win at Freiburg last weekend. A point Julian Nagelsmann’s successor is keen to make.
“He came on the field against SC Freiburg and did a good job,” Tuchel adds. “Now I only think about the next game against Hoffenheim. He is a candidate for a starting place. He is a candidate to fill in.”
Gravenberch, labelled a ‘wonderful player’ by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, may be available on loan this summer. Arsenal have made excellent use of the loan market in recent times. Mikel Arteta’s side signed Martin Odegaard while he too was struggling for opportunities at Real Madrid.
Two years on, Odegaard could become the first Arsenal captain since Patrick Vieira to lift the Premier League trophy.
In other news, Man City lead Real Madrid in race to sign £49,000-a-week England star
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