Real Madrid and Liverpool are reportedly closely monitoring the situation of 19-year-old Dutch prodigy Ryan Gravenberch.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid and Liverpool are tracking the situation of Ryan Gravenberch at Ajax. The 19-year-old Dutch prodigy is unlikely to sign a new contract with Ajax, and the Reds are prepared to place a €50 million bid to sign him next summer.
Ryan Gravenberch has been with Ajax since joining their famed academy as an eight-year-old in 2010. Since then, the youngster has come leaps and bounds, first breaking into their first-team squad three years ago, aged just 16, before becoming a key figure for the Dutch giants.
Now a mainstay in midfield for Ajax, the 19-year-old has made 86 appearances while chipping in with ten goals and ten assists in the process. In addition, Gravenberch has also become a regular fixture for the Dutch national side. At the same time, some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, have set their sights firmly on him.
The interest from Real Madrid is understandable, considering Luka Modric is in the twilight of his storied career. With Toni Kroos approaching the final phase of his playing days and Casemiro set to turn 30 next year, the Spanish giants need to lay down a succession plan for their three midfield stalwarts.
Two of the pieces in the puzzle already seem to be in place at Real Madrid, with Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga viewed as long-term solutions in midfield. To that end, Gravenberch fits the bill perfectly, making him a viable target for Real Madrid. However, the La Liga heavyweights face stiff competition from Liverpool in the race to sign the 19-year-old.
Liverpool’s eagerness to sign Gravenberch makes sense, as James Milner is closing in on his final days at the club level, while Jordan Henderson is on the wrong side of 30. As a result, it behoves the Reds to sign a long-term successor for at least one of the ageing midfielders, which is how Gravenberch comes into the picture.
Real Madrid and Liverpool have now been handed a major boost in pursuit of the Dutch prodigy, as he is likely to snub a new contract at Ajax. And the Reds, in particular, are ready to pounce on this situation by lodging a €50 million offer to sign Gravenberch next summer.
On the other hand, Real Madrid will wait till July 2023 to sign him on a free transfer once his Ajax contract runs out. That is because the Merengues might be unable to afford to pay €50 million in a window when they aim to sign Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Antonio Rudiger. Such a development hands the initiative to Liverpool, and it remains to be seen if they beat Real Madrid to Gravenberch’s signature.