Former Premier League winner Paul Parker believes Benjamin Pavard would be a fine addition to Manchester United with the Bayern Munich ace capable of getting more out of Antony on the right-wing.
Ahead of Manchester United’s insipid 1-0 win over Wolves on Monday, Gary Neville told Sky Sports that this was the season when Antony would find himself under pressure to ‘explode’ in English football.
That insomnia-curing victory over Gary O’Neil’s side, however, felt like a snapshot of the winger entire Red Devils career so far. Yes, there was the odd bit of Brazilian brilliance; Antony could control a powerball in a hurricane while wearing roller skates upon his feet.
But seldom end-product from a player yet to consistently justify his eye-watering £82 million price-tag.
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Antony under pressure at Manchester United
Former United defender Paul Parker, however, wonders if the addition of a more attack-minded, overlapping option at right-back would free up Antony to do more of what he does best.
“He’s a very good defender,” Parker – who knows a thing or two about playing right-back for Man United – tells Inside Sport of Benjamin Pavard.
“But he’s also very good when going forward and he can score goals. So I can see why they’re interested.
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“He would also help Antony.”
There are, however, two problems with Parker’s theory.
Man United have held Benjamin Pavard talks
One) with Harry Maguire’s £30 million move to West Ham falling through, United will likely call off negotiations to bring in Pavard as his replacement. There also remains a £20 million chasm between the fee United are willing to pay and the fee Bayern Munich want. BILD say that Pavard is valued at £45 million by the Bundesliga champions.
And two; Pavard would have been brought in not as a right-back but as a centre-half, as explained by The Athletic.
Furthermore, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka may not be renowned for his creative talents, it should not be forgotten that it was Man United’s current first-choice right-back who set up Raphael Varane’s late winner against Wolves.