Inside Ryan Gravenberch at Bayern Munich and the Harry Kane factor in Manchester United transfer chase

MEN Sport understands Manchester United are interested in signing midfielder Ryan Gravenberch this summer and we’ve got the lowdown on the youngster from a Bayern Munich expert

Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch’s potential move to Manchester United would make a lot of sense according to an expert on the Bundesliga giants.

MEN Sport understands that Ten Hag has highlighted Gravenberch as an option to strengthen the midfield. The Reds’ central players have been under fire following the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and there is a consensus something needs to change to end the current vulnerability in the centre of the pitch.

The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder worked under Ten Hag at Ajax and the pair hold a strong relationship. And according to freelance football commentator and ex-ESPN Bayern Munich correspondent Mark Lovell, Gravenberch switching to Old Trafford would be best for all parties at this stage.

Lovell told the Manchester Evening News: “Ryan is from Ajax and he came to Bayern on a free transfer so the United coach knows all about him and all his assets, everything he can do and what he can’t do so well. He hasn’t had much of a go at Bayern, he has been filling in here and there but he had over 20 substitute appearances last season and he would have expected to play more from the start.

“This move makes a lot of sense because Erik ten Hag knows all about him. It would make sense from a Bayern point of view as well, particularly because they need to recoup some money on the Harry Kane deal. I am sure Thomas Tuchel, if he intended to give him more of a go, would have done it by now.”

Despite only joining last summer, Lovell is of the opinion Bayern would want to sell Gravenberch permanently rather than settle for a loan like the one which the Reds negotiated for Marcel Sabitzer in January. He has subsequently joined Dortmund.

Obviously they will have a price that they are asking for. He is 20, 21 years old so he is a bit different to Sabitzer,” he added. “He hasn’t had much of a go at all at Bayern so he must be itching to get going somewhere else.

“It was seen as a real coup at the time to bring him in on a free transfer, on a Bosman, Bayern like doing that. They did that for Lewandowski back in the day, that is the way they always used to do their business but Harry Kane has changed the rules of engagement.

“I can’t remember Tuchel coming out and saying Ryan Gravenberch should be patient, or he is one for the future. There has been a lot going on in the last few months with various players but I can’t remember him really backing Ryan.

“Ten Hag knows Gravenberch inside out and at the moment he is wasted at Bayern. He is not happy, he thinks he should be playing more but there is a lot of competition.”

Another player linked with the Reds has been Benjamin Pavard. Lovell believes United would be able to seal a deal for the defender if they can offer him one condition.

“They (Bayern) paid a bit of money to Stuttgart and they will be looking to recoup that in full,” he replied when asked about the French defender. “Bayern want to play him as a right-back and he believes he can play centre-half, that is his belief and he wants to play on the right-side of central defence.

“Whether that is something United could offer, obviously they are trying to sell Harry Maguire. Pavard though only sees himself as a centre-back and he can only play right-back in an emergency – Bayern don’t see it that way.”