Bayern Munich: Will Benjamin Pavard do u-turn on contract renewal?
The second half of the season is crucial for Bayern Munich when it comes to squad building for the next few campaigns. Hasan Salihamidzic will be busy negotiating with representatives of several players that are in the red zone of their current deals. The Bavarian club has reportedly agreed to a deal in principle with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, but there is significant work to do with other players.
The most challenging round of negotiation for Bayern is likely to come when they sit down with Benjamin Pavard. The French defender has less than 18 months left on his contract. In an interview at the end of last year, Pavard expressed interest in hearing about other projects.
Bayern made it clear that Pavard will not leave in January, and talks are expected with the club in Ruckrunde. The Bavarian club rejected an offer from Inter Milan on deadline day during the winter transfer window, which highlights Pavard’s importance in the squad.
The latest report from Corriere Dello Sport (via AZ) insists that Pavard may do a u-turn and sign a new deal at Die Roten. Meanwhile, Bild (via AZ) has also reported that there has been a recent discussion between the German club and Pavard as the relationship between the two parties continues to get better.
There is certainly a good amount of recent evidence to believe these reports. The start of the second half of the season has seen Julian Nagelsmann switched to a back three. Benjamin Pavard has been playing on the right side of the back three, allowing him to play in his favoured position.
If Nagelsmann continues to play with this system in the long run, Pavard will get an ample number of opportunities to play in his preferred role. The key reason for Pavard to consider other projects is to play regularly in his desired center-back position. If he gets those opportunities in Bavaria, then signing a new deal makes a lot of sense.
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Die Roten will look to find a breakthrough in talks with Pavard before the end of the season. The Bavarian club will have to reluctantly sell him in the summer if there is no agreement over a new deal. Inter Milan will come back for him in the summer after failing with the bid on the deadline day during winter. Barcelona is also reportedly showing interest in the French defender.
Benjamin Pavard has a significant role to play in the remainder of the season. Nagelsmann and Die Roten convince Pavard to stay on the back of events happening on the pitch. The French defender will look to cement his place in the starting XI as he gears up to start in central defense against Union Berlin on Sunday.