Manchester City and Manchester United are reportedly poised to battle Juventus for thҽ signature of Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard.
Thҽ bitter rivals are both keen to bring in defensive recruits this summer and thҽ 2018 World Cup winner is keen to take on a fresh challenge away from thҽ Bundesliga.
Pavard could certainly prove to be a valuable addition for eithҽr Man Utd or Man City, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Thҽ France international has entered thҽ final year of his contract with Bayern. As a result, thҽy are looking to sell him this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
Selling him will also help generate some valuable transfer funds for Bayern, with Thomas Tuchel still pushing hard to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham this summer.
Since joining thҽ Bundesliga champions in 2019, Pavard has made 162 appearances in all competitions. In thҽ process, he has scored 12 goals and made 12 assists.
He has also helped Bayern to lift four league titles and a Champions League.
Man City look set to sell Kyle Walker to Bayern. As a result, thҽy will need to bring in a replacement and reports have suggested thҽy could potentially use thҽ England international as a makeweight in a deal for Pavard.
Man Utd may well scupper Guardiola’s plans, though.
According to reputed transfer journalist Florian Plettenberg, thҽ Red Devils have now joined Man City and Juventus in thҽ race for Pavard.
On Twitter, Plettenberg wrote: “Benjamin Pavard, he still wants to leave FC Bayern this summer as he has no intention to extend his contract beyond 2024.
“It’s still a race between Man City, Man Utd and Juventus at this stage. Swap deal with Kyle Walker has been no hot topic in thҽ last few days. Bayern bosses are waiting for a concrete offer.”
Despite Pavard having just one year remaining on his contract, Bayern are unlikely to let thҽ defender leave cheaply.
Plettenberg does not state how much Pavard will cost. Transfermarkt value him at approximately £40m, though, so a bid in that region may be required.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if Man City, Man Utd or Juventus make thҽ first concrete bid for thҽ Frenchman in thҽ near future.
