Barcelona will reportedly face stiff competition from AC Milan in the race to sign Bayern Munich utility defender Benjamin Pavard.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Benjamin Pavard is the subject of interest from AC Milan. The Serie A giants can afford to match the Frenchman’s wages of €7 million per season. But the Rossoneri will face competition from Barcelona for the utility defender.
Benjamin Pavard has made a name for himself by reprising different roles in the defensive units at Bayern Munich and the French national side. The 27-year-old is already a World Cup winner, going all the way with Les Bleus in 2018. And he has gone from strength to strength since joining Bayern from VfB Stuttgart in July 2019.
But the French utility defender has a little over a year left on his Bayern Munich contract, worth €7 million a year. Meanwhile, Pavard’s uncertain future has not left him distracted, as he has seven goals and one assist in 38 appearances. But the situation surrounding the versatile defender has alerted Barcelona and AC Milan.
The Frenchman has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time. And it is hardly surprising that the Catalan giants are keen on signing the Bayern Munich utility defender. That is because they have struggled to identify Dani Alves’s long-term successor since the Brazilian’s first stint ended. And Joan Laporta is keen to see Barcelona signing a right-back this summer.
Several right-backs have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar. And Pavard is a viable target, with the 27-year-old keen on joining Barcelona. But the Blaugrana cannot afford the 27-year-old’s wages, worth €7 million per year. That brings AC Milan into the picture as a front-runner to secure his services.
The Serie A champions are in a much better financial condition. And AC Milan can afford to hand him a contract with €7 million-a-year wages. Meanwhile, it is clear why the Rossoneri might be interested in Pavard, considering Sergino Dest’s struggles. With the USMNT international set to return to Barcelona, the Bayern Munich defender has emerged as a top target.
The 27-year-old can also be a central defensive solution for AC Milan. But the Serie A champions face an uphill battle to clinch UEFA Champions League qualification. And if they fail, Barcelona will again become a leading contender to sign the French international.
