Liverpool dealt transfer hammer blow as Man City identify Bellingham alternative
Manchester City will consider a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch if they miss out as expected on Jude Bellingham.
City boss Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen his options this summer and Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old England sensation had been a serious target. But Bellingham is poised to move to the Bernabeu and that leaves City, who could lose Ilkay Gundogan when his contract expires, looking at alternate choices.
Holland international Gravenberch is on their list of potential signings, although they will face competition from Liverpool if they do press ahead with a bid to land him. Gravenberch is highly rated despite enduring a difficult season in Munich following his switch from Ajax last summer.
Last month, Mirror Football reported that Jurgen Klopp’s side have already made contact with the midfielder’s representatives over a potential summer move. Gravenberch’s agent Jose Fortes Rodriguez and his father, Ryan Sr., have both intimated that the youngster would be open to making the switch to Merseyside - if an offer was to materialise.
Gravenberch is on £100,000-a-week in Germany - after tax. That means Liverpool would have to give him a £200,000-a-week contract just to match those terms.
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But those figures were not deemed to be an issue when the Redss spoke to Gravenberch’s advisers in Amsterdam. And Liverpool are hoping that Bayern will do business if they can recoup the £16.3 million they paid Ajax last summer.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Man City's Pep Guardiola are both chasing Bayern star Gravenberch (Getty Images)The 20-year-old has made 20 Bundesliga appearances this season but all but one of them have been from the bench.
Should Gravenberch leave Bayern, he would do so with his glowing reputation still intact. Just two years ago, he was recognised as the most talented player in the Netherlands, scooping the prestigious Johan Cruyff award.
There is a belief at the Premier League clubs that he is still very much one for the long-term, though, and that he will be open to a move this summer despite the troubles following his £16million move.
Speaking in April, he warned bosses at the Bavarian club that his patience was running thin with his current situation, and then it must change in the coming months. “Training and playing at the top level for a year is beautiful and instructive. Although playing, it is mainly training,” he told the Dutch press.
“That has to change next season, then I really want to play weekly again. I haven't spoken to the club management yet, so just wait and see what happens. But it is clear that this role does not match my expectations.”
City look set to be in the market for reinforcements, despite Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side finding themselves in touching distance of a Treble. Kalvin Phillips - signed for £45 million just last year - has failed to make the grade at the Etihad, with reports the City boss will look to move on and upgrade before the start of next season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are in desperate need for new signings following a campaign which will likely see them fail to secure Champions League football. Midfield is expected to be the focus of the rebuild with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving on a free, as well as James Milner - who is due to sign for Brighton.
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