Roland Cutinho
Manchester United unable to bend to Bayern Munich’s financial demands in the race to sign Benjamin Pavard
According to German outlet Sport BILD, Bayern Munich are asking for an exceptionally high fee for Manchester United target Benjamin Pavard, despite the World Cup-winning player having less than a year left on his existing contract.
United made a bid of approximately £25 million (€29 million), which was considered a reasonable offer for all parties involved.
Considering Pavard’s reluctance to extend his contract and his desire to secure a transfer this summer, the proposed deal seemed to make sense.
However, due to Bayern’s inability to secure their preferred right-back choice, Kyle Walker, they are cautious about letting go of their key defender.
As a result, they have slapped a hefty price tag on the French player, ranging from €45m to €50m (£43m). This substantial asking price would likely place the player beyond the financial reach of Man United.
Although the English giants holds a strong negotiating position due to the defender’s contract issues, they still have to provide the money if they want to have any chance to land him this summer.
As Harry Maguire appears to be on the verge of leaving for West Ham, manager Erik ten Hag is actively seeking to reinforce the team’s defensive line. Pavard seems to have emerged as the leading candidate to step into the shoes of the departing English player.
The manager’s preference for the Bayern star could stem from the former’s versatility.
With the need for a fourth centre-back, the manager is dealing with persistent challenges at right back as well. Both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot have not been consistent in that position.
During the initial half of the previous season, Dalot was favoured, and in the latter half, Wan-Bissaka took the role. However, both players failed to make a strong impression during the pre-season this summer.
Although Pavard isn’t particularly enthusiastic about playing in that position, he might be open to a compromise if it guarantees him consistent playing time at Old Trafford.
This opportunity could potentially allow him to partner with his fellow countryman, Raphael Varane, in United’s defensive setup. If, in that case, the Red Devils fail to meet Bayern’s demands, then they have to shift their focus to other alternatives in the market.
Nice centre-back Jean Claire-Todibo would be a comparatively cheaper option, and he is also four years younger than the Bundesliga defender. Pavard‘s experience might be the missing part, but the Todibo has enough pedigree to become a crucial player under Ten Hag.
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In our opinion, the club should be open to their options rather than sticking to the same player for weeks without any solutions. The fans will certainly get a more clear picture of this matter in the upcoming weeks.
