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| Benjamin Pavard of FC Bayern Muenchen pours beer over Julian Nagelsmann, Head Coach of FC Bayern Muenchen following victory during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena on April 23, 2022 in Munich, Germany. |
Manchester United are reportedly set to go head to head
with Chelsea in the race to sign Benjamin Pavard this summer.
According
to L’Equipe, as relayed by Sport
Witness,
Benjamin Pavard is starting at an uncertain future at Bayern Munich following
their capture of Matthijs de Ligt. Many expect the Frenchman to leave the club
this summer, which has put top clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea on
alert.
Manchester
United have already included Pavard in their transfer wishlist, while Chelsea
are naturally included in the mix, as they are currently on the lookout for
defensive reinforcements, in light of the expected departures of many star
players.
The
Blues have had to part ways with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger so
far. Many believe Cesar Azpilicueta could follow suit, amid
interest from Barcelona. The
Spaniard’s potential exit could leave a gaping hole in the Chelsea backline, as
the veteran was capable of operating as a centre-back and a right-back.
In an
attempt to fill that void, Chelsea could make a move for Pavard. The Frenchman
is equally versatile and can operate in multiple positions in defence,
including central defence and his favoured right-back. It would make him a
handy option for Thomas Tuchel, whose team are currently hopeful
of signing Sevilla starlet Jules Kounde.
Meanwhile,
Manchester United are fresh
from the capture of Lisandro Martinez. With the Argentine set to compete with
Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof ahead of the new season, the
club do not ideally require the services of an additional defender.
However,
Pavard is a right-back who has showcased his quality in the past for both
club and country. Although his spell at Bayern Munich has been far from ideal,
he is still regarded as one of the best right-backs in France, with many rating
him highly for his composure. And Bayern Munich will demand around €35
million for him.
In many
ways, Pavard resembles the style of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. But the Frenchman offers
far more technical quality and is tactically versatile enough to operate as a
centre-back. As such, he could prove to be a smart piece of investment, as far
as Manchester United are concerned.
The
report suggests it might be a great time to snap up the Frenchman as well,
knowing Bayern could look to offload one of their star defender after signing
de Ligt. Although a contract extension has not been ruled out, a move away from
Allianz Arena appears to be the likely outcome, with the Bavarians valuing the
right-back at around €35 million.
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