Man City move for midfielder Man Utd should be chasing ahead of De Jong

Tom Weber

• Updated: 8 May 2023 15:29 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City are reportedly targeting Ryan Gravenberch, and this must alert their city rivals who should be chasing him as well.

Despite not playing much since his €18.5 million move to Bayern last year, Ryan Gravenberch is one of Europe's most in-demand players this summer. That is because he is seen as a cheaper alternative to Jude Bellingham. Indeed, Liverpool were reportedly put off by Bellingham's asking price, so they began courting the Dutchman instead.

Now, reports claim that Manchester City are also taking a keen interest in the 20-year-old - but this begs the question: why aren't Manchester United in for him as well? The Red Devils have been repeatedly linked with a move for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, but the data suggests that Gravenberch would be a better option with much more upside.

In fact, the Bayern man has the potential to be the best Dutch player of this generation and Oranje legend Rafael van der Vaart thinks that his compatriot is better than Bellingham 'at everything.'

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Gravenberch's former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag clearly still rates his former protégé as he tried to bring him to Old Trafford on loan in January before ultimately having to settle on Bayern teammate Marcel Sabitzer. This makes it even stranger that United aren't seriously looking at Gravenberch again this summer.

A move to Manchester?

Gravenberch would be an ideal option for that one midfield spot Erik ten Hag is looking to fill when Sabitzer's deal expires, but instead it is Pep Guardiola and company who are trying to lure the Dutchman to Manchester.

With Real Madrid now considered the favourites to land Jude Bellingham, City are turning their attention to Gravenberch. Despite his struggles at Bayern, the Dutchman's reputation has not suffered, and City's interest is ultimately unsurprising given the rumours of Ilkay Gundogan's departure this summer.

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According to data from our partners at SciSports, Gravenberch has the potential to eventually become a better midfielder than Kevin de Bruyne, so City's interest is fully justified.