The £20m 'slippery snake' midfielder who could give Manchester United what they hoped Paul Pogba would

In the Chinese Zodiac, Ryan Gravenberch was a few months out from being born in the year of the snake but it doesn't stop the midfielder describing himself as one.

The 21-year-old has been linked with Manchester United amid their early-season troubles. Early-season Old Trafford optimism has dissipated somewhat thanks to a pair of poor performances to kick off the new campaign.

The Reds got away with it on opening night, beating Wolves 1-0 despite being second best, but their away woes from last term continued into this with a 2-0 reverse at Tottenham on Saturday despite an encouraging first half. It's raised more questions than answers for Erik ten Hag with perhaps the most pertinent being the midfield.

Mason Mount was the first summer signing, a player the United boss was determined to sign and delighted to capture. He has the attributes to fit into the Reds system but the early signs of the England international playing in an advanced midfield role alongside Bruno Fernandes with Casemiro sitting have been concerning. It's no surprise to see United links with midfielders intensify.

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And so Gravenberch's name is back on United's list, with the Bayern Munich midfielder having struggled for minutes in his first season in Bavaria. He was an unused sub in their season opener and has also been linked with Liverpool. The German giants value him at around £22million while a loan exit has also been mooted given the Netherlands international only arrived in the Bundesliga from Ajax 12 months ago.

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