Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: 5 midfield transfer targets to watch at Euro 2020

By Ross Kennerley

French midfielder Corentin Tolisso listens to questions during a press conference ahead of a friendly football match against Wales on June 2, as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming 2020 EUFA Euro football tournament, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on May 30, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
French midfielder Corentin Tolisso listens to questions during a press conference ahead of a friendly football match against Wales on June 2, as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming 2020 EUFA Euro football tournament, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on May 30, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Arsenal, Ryan Gravenberch
ISTANBUL – Ryan Gravenberch of Holland during the World Cup qualifying match between Turkey and the Netherlands at Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium on March 24, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey. ANP MAURICE VAN STEEN (Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images) /

3. Ryan Gravenberch

Nation: Netherlands
Club: Ajax
Age: 19
Price: £27m

There is a strong chance that Ryan Gravenberch will still be an Ajax player come the end of the summer but if so it will doubtlessly be his last season there.

Built in a similar way to Paul Pogba, the teenager is the embodiment of a central midfielder akin to those seen in classic Premier League 4-4-2 setups, in that he can do most of everything. Rather well, too.

He balances elegance with belligerence sitting in a reserved midfield slot, boasting the technical ability to carry out from the back and glide beyond the opposition at effortless pace. His progressive carries, carries into the final third, passes and completed dribbles all hover around the 90th percentile, with high SCA’s as a result.

But for someone of such a scarily young age, how he balances these traits with exceptional proactive defensive output is what makes him a star in the making. Sitting in the 98th percentile for interceptions and opposition dribblers tackled, his 4.70 tackles and interception per 90 are 89th percentile worthy. Incredible.

Gravenberch is an enabler. He opens up doors for others to flourish, providing the assistance and security his teammates need to perform. An outstanding talent and might get a few minutes here and there depending on how the Netherlands’ tournament goes.

Home/Arsenal News