Bayern Munich: Benjamin Pavard unsure about signing new deal
The second half of the summer transfer window witnessed a lot of speculation around the future of Benjamin Pavard at Bayern Munich. The French defender was linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. However, Pavard ended up staying in Bavaria and starting the season in the starting XI under Julian Nagelsmann.
Benjamin Pavard has been consistently playing in the right-back position for Die Roten this season. He has delivered solid performances, which has justified Nagelsmann’s decision to keep him in the squad for this season. At the end of the transfer window, one report in Germany suggested that Die Roten would open contract talks with Pavard.
Despite the rumours about a new deal, Pavard has not made a clear decision about his future. According to Bild, Pavard’s representatives were spotted at Sabner Strasse this week, but the French international currently has no immediate plans to sign a new deal with the Bavarian club.
The report from Bild insists that Pavard wants to play as a center-back in the long run. He is also hoping to take on more responsibility in the lineup, but it is unlikely to happen at Die Roten due to the big-money signing of Matthijs de Ligt.
Bayern paid a hefty transfer fee to sign de Ligt from Juventus in the summer. The Dutch defender’s arrival in July led to a lot of speculation around the future of Pavard in Bavaria. Eventually, both players are playing together for Die Roten, but it may not last beyond the current campaign.
After the departure of Niklas Sule from Bayern this summer, Pavard was expected to play in the central defense this season. However, the arrival of de Ligt made sure that Pavard was the fourth-choice central defender in the squad. The French international has reiterated his preferred position consistently. He may have to look for a transfer next summer to fulfill his desire to play in central defense.
Pavard has been a solid player for Die Roten since arriving from VfB Stuttgart in 2019. He has been fairly consistent in the right-back position. If he refuses to extend his contract, Bayern may have to cash in next summer since his current deal expires in 2024. The contract situation of Benjamin Pavard is likely to evolve as the season progresses.
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The French international does have a good chance of playing in central defense against Augsburg on Saturday. Pavard returned to first-team training on Thursday after recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered against Barcelona on Tuesday. Dayot Upamecano was not spotted in training due to a knock, while Lucas Hernandez has been ruled out for weeks due to an adductor injury. Pavard could end up starting in central defense with de Ligt due to injuries to other defenders.