According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano as reported by Liverpool Echo, Manchester City have identified Benjamin Pavard as their top choice for a new right-back. The report suggests that Man City view Pavard as their priority option should Kyle Walker move to Bayern Munich during the current transfer window.
While negotiations between Walker and Bayern are said to be progressing, a finalized agreement is yet to be reached. As a result, both Bayern and City are expected to engage in discussions concerning Pavard and the former Tottenham Hotspur defender to assess the potential for a deal.
Pavard’s Campaign With Bayern Munich Last Season
Pavard has had a solid campaign at the German club, putting in a series of impressive performances on the right side of their defence. The 27-year-old has scored seven goals and picked up one assist in 39 appearances for Bayern Munich this season across all competitions.
The French sensation deserves a lot of credit for averaging 2.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 2.5 clearances, 1.1 shots and 0.6 key passes per game in Bundesliga. He has even been accurate with his ball distribution after completing 89.9% of his attempted passes in the German top tier (stats via whoscored).
Pavard contract at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of next season. Therefore, the Bavarians remain very likely to sanction his exit since they would not want to risk losing him for free next summer.
Should Guardiola Bring Him To Manchester City?
Pavard possesses strong tackling abilities, demonstrating a keen sense of timing to regain possession for his team in defensive areas of the field. He adeptly clears the danger when required and can also unleash powerful long-range strikes. While primarily a right-back, Pavard is versatile enough to fulfil the role of a central defender if instructed by his manager.
The French talent excels in delivering accurate crosses, thereby creating promising goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. However, there is room for improvement in making more runs down the right flank to maximize his impact in the attacking third.
Pavard is expected to enhance the quality of Pep Guardiola’s first-choice starting lineup if he joins the Sky Blues. With his abilities, he is more than capable of securing a regular place at the Etihad Stadium. However, the realization of the deal depends on whether Kyle Walker departs for Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window.
At the age of 27, Pavard brings valuable experience that can contribute to Manchester City’s pursuit of top honours in the coming years. With his prime years ahead of him, he is poised to make an immediate impact at the club if Guardiola manages to secure his signing in the upcoming transfer window.
