Manchester United linked defender Benjamin Pavard looks set to make the move to Manchester City, as a replacement for the outgoing Kyle Walker, who looks set to depart the Etihad for Bayern Munich.
That’s according to an exclusive from Fabrizio Romano, who claims that City have put Pavard at the top of their wanted list with a new right-back now a new priority for City.
Romano also claims that City and Bayern Munich will have discussions around the Walker and Pavard deal soon.
Pavard told L’Equipe last year he was likely to look for a new challenge at the end of the season. He was linked to Manchester United at the time. The position has since slipped down the Red Devils’ list of priorities.
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United set to miss out on Pavard
United have previously been linked with the Frenchman, and Florian Plettenberg, of Sky Germany, has claimed that talks had taken place between Pavard and United.
As Erik ten Hag was reportedly looking for a new right-back earlier this season, with doubts over Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s capabilities as a right-back in his formation.
United have previously scouted the World Cup-winning defender but it seems they are set to miss out on the Frenchman with City’s priority seemingly being a right-back. News emerged today that Walker had reached a verbal agreement with Bayern according to Gianluca Di Marzio, so this has, seemingly, changed City’s priorities.
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Pavard is a competent right-back and is a more than capable deputy at centre-back with his height and his passing ability.
As recently as May, a report from 90 Min claimed Manchester United were still ‘closely watching’ Pavard, sending scouts to watch him in action.
Wan-Bissaka proved he can play at right-back
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was seemingly the more vulnerable of the two right-backs last year when Ten Hag joined the club. The Dutch manager seemingly preferred Diogo Dalot‘s attacking capabilities over Wan-Bissaka’s defensive capabilities, but, recently, something has changed.
Wan-Bissaka, when given the opportunity, has excelled at right-back not just in the defensive aspects but the passing aspect and the ball retention aspect that Ten Hag craves. The Englishman was superb, in particular, against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final as a half-time substitute, and in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion.
It now seems the English fullback has gained the trust of Ten Hag and has firmly established himself as the new first-choice right-back, so the need for a right-back isn’t as big as it perhaps was earlier this season.