It is questionable whether Benjamin Pavard will stay at Bayern beyond the summer.Image: dpa / Sven Hoppe
Bundesliga
It has been known for a long time that Benjamin Pavard can imagine leaving FC Bayern and is not satisfied with being used as a right-back.
“I’m ready to evaluate new interesting projects, but as a central defender”the 26-year-old made clear in an interview with the Italian “Gazetta dello Sport” in November.
And since the signing of Dutch international Daley Blind on Thursday at the latest, it has been clear that Pavard will also be used mainly on the right side at FC Bayern in the second half of the season.
Because Blind has played most of his games as a central defender or on the left side of defence. So he should replace Lucas Hernandez at Munich, who will be out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear.
Pavard’s bad luck is that Noussair Mazraoui will be out for at least another four to six weeks with his pericarditis as a result of a corona infection. The 2018 World Champion is the only right defender in the FC Bayern squad alongside young star Josip Stanišić.
“It doesn’t matter to me whether there is contact with other clubs. We have other goals.”
Bayern boss Hasan Salihamidžić on Benjamin Pavard
FC Bayern: Pavard can imagine a change
The only question is whether this will remain so beyond the summer. Although Pavard’s contract runs until the summer of 2024, if he makes it clear to the Bayern bosses again that he wants to leave, they will probably not put any obstacles in his way.
Because only in the coming summer can a transfer fee be achieved. And according to transfermarkt.de, Pavard has a market value of 35 million euros.
Now the Frenchman, who has been repeatedly linked with Chelsea in the past, should explore possible targets himself. According to the “kicker”, there should already have been a request from the Pavard side to FC Barcelona. And the Catalans have also expressed their interest.
The problem for Pavard: FC Barcelona will probably not fulfill the central defender’s wish either. Because the Spaniards are actually looking for a right-back defender.
Bayern boss Salihamidžić wants to speak to Pavard
The bosses of FC Bayern meanwhile see the situation calmly. “We will have talks. It doesn’t matter to me whether there is contact with other clubs. We have different goals. Benji is an important player for us. He says he feels very good,” said sports director Hasan Salihamidžić on the sidelines of the introduction of newcomer Daley Blind.
A few weeks ago he emphasized that this topic would be discussed and dealt with in a timely manner.
FC Bayern is currently in a training camp in Qatar to prepare for the new season. On January 20th, Munich will continue with the game against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
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