Manchester United Make Contact With Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard

According to latest reports, Manchester United have enquired about a potential transfer for Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard in the summer. Erik ten Hag is looking to add an attack-minded right-back to his team and the Frenchman could serve as the perfect target.

Benjamin Pavard has been a key part of the Bayern Munich squad since joining them in 2019 from VfB Stuttgart. He won the Champions League with the German club in 2020 and was also part of the World Cup-winning French squad in 2018.

The 27-year-old has excellent defensive qualities which is the primary reason for him being a part of title-winning squads. He can also bag a goal or two when the moment arises and is one of the top options available in the market.

According to The Athletic, Manchester United have made contact with Bayern Munich over a possible move for Benjamin Pavard. The right-back has only one year left in his current deal and therefore, the Red Devils are hopeful of agreeing on a fee for a potential move in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report also states that Ten Hag’s side have held ‘exploratory talks’ with the French defender regarding a move to Old Trafford. The English club have been interested in the right-back for quite a few seasons now, and a move for him looks likelier in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga club have enough players who can serve as right-backs. They recently signed Joao Cancelo from Manchester City, while Noussair Mazraoui moved from Ajax last summer. They also have the options of Josip Stanisic, Bouna Sarr and Joshua Kimmich who can slot in as a right-back.

🚨 Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United have expressed an interest in signing Benjamin Pavard.

His contract at Bayern runs out in 2024.

(Source: @GraemeBailey) pic.twitter.com/eL8cZfNR1i

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 4, 2023

Moreover, Manchester United have held the stance of selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka but are yet to find a new club for him. Although Diogo Dalot has improved massively this season, he still needs more support and cover options. The Portuguese still has a lot to learn as they are a few areas where he has made mistakes this season.

Why Should Manchester United Sign Benjamin Pavard?

As established, Benjamin Pavard has won football’s most prestigious trophies in the span of two years. He had a significant contribution to both those campaigns. He can play a similar role to that of Bayern Munich and help the Red Devils win more trophies. United recently won their first trophy after six years, the Carabao Cup and look like they are on the right track.

The Frenchman makes 2 tackles, and 1.5 interceptions while also making 2.2 clearances per game. He has also completed 2.7 long balls per game (stats via whoscored). He could be an impact player similar to what Casemiro has been for Ten Hag’s side. His European experience could be extremely helpful for United in the Champions League if they manage to qualify for next season’s campaign.

There is a trend that many teams currently follow tactically in the world of football. Ten Hag instructs Diogo Dalot to join the midfield to have more numbers in that area. This means he attacks only on fewer occasions but helps in the build-up play. This suits perfectly for Pavard since he is not as offensively sound as he is defensively.

United will need to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka who looks set for a departure despite massively improving on his recent performances. Although AWB is also a defensive player, Pavard can help more with the experience and sharpness that he has gained from his period in the top-flight. The Frenchman has played with excellent teammates and could push the United players to be better versions of themselves.

Besides Benjamin Pavard, Manchester United are also tracking a number of other options for the right-back position. Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresnada, Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Josip Juranovic of Union Berlin – all are potential targets for the Red Devils next summer.

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