Aniket Rai
Transfer News: Manchester United face Juventus and Barcelona battle for Ajax starlet Ryan Gravenberch
A report by The Sun mentions that Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax Amsterdam is attracting a lot of interest from Europe’s elite clubs, which includes Manchester United.
The 18-year-old is having a breakout season in the Netherlands where he has managed 3 goals and 5 assists in 24 Eredivisie appearances so far. And this form has paid dividends for him on the international stage as well. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Gravenberch earned his first Netherlands cap this month and featured in both of their FIFA World Cup qualification games; first in a 4-2 loss against Turkey, and most recently in the 2-0 win over Latvia.
And there seems to be no shortage of praise for him. Brian Tevreden, who was his coach at the youth level at Ajax, praised the midfielder and compared him to United’s £89million man, Paul Pogba.
“But technically, I would say he’s a better version of Pogba in his best days at Juventus, in terms of his technique and his presence on the pitch. He’s very dominant like Pogba was, and that’s what I see in Ryan.”
The next big thing?
Apart from United, Serie A champions Juventus and La Liga giants Barcelona are the other clubs keeping track of the central-midfielder. And Tevreden thinks Gravenberch will be on the move soon.
“I saw it when Ryan was younger. He is still young, but the next step will be a big club in Europe. And I believe he will be a big success over there.”
Ajax’s youth academy is famous for producing elite Dutch players. United themselves have first-hand experience of it, with the likes of Edwin van der Saar, Daley Blind and Donny van de Beek being I Lancieri‘s products.
More Manchester United News:
- Uruguay coach talks up Edinson Cavani and his national team future
- Manchester United may not have the transfer budget to get across Jadon Sancho deal in the summer
- Sergio Romero could have his wife standing between him and a Manchester United exit
It would be a great investment to get in someone as skilled and young as Gravenberch; especially with Pogba and Van de Beek’s future at United being unclear at the moment.
