Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard has emerged as one of the options for Barcelona to reinforce their right-back position in the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has been heavily linked with an exit from the Allianz Arena over the past few months after having a minor falling out with manager Julian Nagelsmann, while he also had a few disciplinary issues.
Barcelona are understood to have identified Pavard as a target to address their problems in the right-back slot, where they are currently fielding Jules Kounde.
The fact that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner’s contract with the Bavarian giants expires next year made the move more plausible as he would be available for a reasonable price.
However, recent reports have suggested that Pavard’s situation at the Allianz Arena has changed and the defender is now considering continuing in Germany with the Bundesliga champions by signing a new contract.
Recently, manager Nagelsmann also hinted that he wanted to keep hold of Pavard, and now the defender himself has come out and stated that he is comfortable at Bayern Munich and is not looking to leave.
“I’ve never said I wanted to go. I’m at a very big club, I feel comfortable here at Bayern,” he told BILD (h/t Fabrizio Romano).
This development might come as a blow to Barcelona’s hopes of signing Pavard in the summer.
The Blaugrana had held a meeting with the right-back’s agent, Pini Zahavi, last month, but with the player’s stance on his continuity at Bayern changing, Xavi Hernandez & co. might have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.
Juan Foyth of Villarreal and Thomas Meunier of Borussia Dortmund are some of the other options that Barcelona are looking at and it remains to be seen who they end up signing. But, as things stand, chances of a move for Pavard are starting to look bleak.
