Gravenberch ‘better than Bellingham’ as Liverpool eye £114m saving

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been told that midfield target Ryan Gravenberch is ‘better than Jude Bellingham in every way’. The Reds have reportedly pulled out of the race for Bellingham ahead of the summer transfer window, but former Tottenham star Raphael van der Vaart believes Gravenberch to be a superior player at a fraction of the price.

Senior figures at Anfield reportedly feel as though lumping a huge proportion of their summer transfer budget on Bellingham would not be good business. Borussia Dortmund are set to demand £130million to let him go, with Manchester City and Real Madrid both firmly in the hunt.

Sitting eighth in the Premier League table, Liverpool face a comprehensive rebuild at the end of the season, the likes of which would not be completed by one marquee signing alone. Gravenberch is touted as a cheaper midfield option, having signed for Bayern Munich in a £16m deal last summer.

Reports indicate that Liverpool are hopeful of negotiating a deal similar in value as the Dutchman continues to struggle for regular minutes in the Bundesliga. Landing the 20-year-old at the same price Bayern paid would be a staggering £114m cheaper than what BVB are thought to be asking for Bellingham.

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Talks between the Reds and Gravenberch’s representatives reportedly took place in Amsterdam last week, and despite the player requiring £200,000 a week to take the leap of faith, Liverpool are still thought to be interested.

That will come as no surprise to Van der Vaart, who quickly cemented cult hero status during his time at Spurs, as he believes that Gravenberch is a better player than Bellingham regardless of their respective price tags.

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“Do you know what the most important thing is when you go to a new club? The first two weeks,” the 40-year-old told Ziggo Sport. “You have to show in every training, every practice game that you are a rightful purchase.

“For Gravenberch, it would actually be good to loan him back to Ajax again. Can you remember any player who sat on the bench at Bayern in the 1990s? You make a lot of money… Nice and all, but no, you have to play football.

“What I think the big difference is: Bellingham is at a club a step lower and always plays. I think Gravenberch is actually better than Bellingham in every way. Especially in physicality.”

Van der Vaart’s claims will surprise many, given that Bellingham is held to be one of the finest young players in the world. At 6ft 3in tall and with a keen eye for goal, Gravenberch is still a hugely promising player, but his career has stalled since arriving at the Allianz Arena.

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