Man City poised to battle Liverpool for ideal Bellingham alternative, as Guardiola prepares for departure of key man
Manchester City could reportedly rival Liverpool for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, as they both look for Jude Bellingham alternatives.
Both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are looking to bring in new midfielders this summer. As a result, we could see a bidding war take place between the Premier League giants.
Gravenberch certainly has the potential to become a high-level player, so it will be interesting to see whether Man City or Liverpool come out on top.
This is according to the Daily Mirror, who claim Man City will ‘consider a move’ for Gravenberch if they miss out on signing Bellingham.
Real Madrid are currently the big favourites to sign the Dortmund star, although, Man City still have a glimmer of hope in their pursuit.
Nevertheless, if they miss out, as expected, Gravenberch could be an excellent alternative. The Netherlands international is young, strong, good on the ball and has heaps of potential.
The 20-year-old has endured a difficult season in the Bundesliga this term, but is still tipped to become a top player.
Man City eye Gundogan cover
Man City could potentially lose club captain Ilkay Gundogan this summer. The 32-year-old’s contract at the Etihad is set to expire at the end of the season and although Guardiola would prefer to keep him, he has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.
As a result, the Cityzens will need to bring in a replacement for Gundogan. This will be a difficult task, though, given how important he is to the team. The Germany international proved that again on Saturday, netting a brace against Leeds.
Gravenberch could potentially be a good replacement option. Since signing for Bayern Munich last summer, the Dutchman has made 21 Bundesliga appearances, but the vast majority have seen him come on as a substitute.
At his previous club Ajax, however, it was a different story. Under Erik ten Hag, Gravenberch played a vital role in helping his team to win three Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups.
With that in mind, the midfielder already has the winning mentality needed to succeed at Man City. However, as mentioned, Liverpool also hold a firm interest in signing Gravenberch.
The Mirror note that Klopp’s side have ‘already made contact’ with the player’s representatives. Gravenberch’s agent and his father, Ryan Sr., have both intimated that the youngster would be open to making the switch to Merseyside.
Liverpool reportedly believe a bid of approximately £16m would be enough to convince Bayern to sell.
But, the Dutchman could find it difficult to turn down Man City if they come calling. So, it will be interesting to see if the Cityzens table a concrete offer for his services this summer.
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