Manchester United target Benjamin Pavard has ruled out a summer exit from Bayern Munich, in a blow to Erik ten Hag 's transfer plans.
The Dutchman is set to prioritise signing a new right-back in the summer, as he searches for an upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Pavard has been linked with a departure from the Allianz Arena, reports which have increased since Joao Cancelo's arrival in January.
The Frenchman has won three Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in his four seasons with Bayern. But his contract at the German giants expires in 18 months, with Bayern thought to be ready to sell him.
Pavard though is not ready to leave and has now committed his future to Bayern. He was heavily linked with a January move to Inter Milan, but the Frenchman has made it clear he is happy with life in Germany.
"I never said I wanted to go. I know very well that I'm in a very big club where everything is excellently positioned. Whether it's the team, the physiotherapists, the people in charge, there's a great atmosphere everywhere," he told Sport1.
"I feel very comfortable here, I like the club and the fans and I hope we can achieve great things this season. I'm not one to disembark mid-voyage. My goal was definitely to stay at Bayern.
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"I am determined to give everything for the club and for the team and I want to win as many titles as possible with Bayern. I think I performed well even before the World Cup. But that was definitely a good sign and shows the trust that the club has in me.
"I try to do my job as well as possible - and I have the feeling that the fans in Munich respect me for that. And vice versa, I like the atmosphere here at the club and the relationship with the fans, who are very important to us. "
Pavard's dismissal of a potential exit will be a serious blow to Ten Hag as he looks to boost his options at full-back. Wan-Bissaka has been battling Diogo Dalot for the starting spot, though it is clear an upgrade is needed in the position in the summer.
Meanwhile, Pavard is in a selection battle of his own with Cancelo, though he did recently earn high praise from boss Julian Nagelsmann. And the Frenchman revealed he maintains a close relationship with the German in another apparent blow to United's hopes of convincing him to move.
"Of course I'm happy to hear something like that from the coach. But I won't rest on that. I'm very happy because he trusts me in a position where I feel most comfortable and where I can best play to my strengths," he added.
"The coach is very open. If you want to talk to him and knock on his door, he's always there for you. The kind of football he wants to play is exactly what I like too. It's attacking football where you always have to be on the move.
"And I learn from him every day how I can improve. It's good for the team that there's competition at every position. I try to repay the coach's trust with the best possible performances.
"It's going well at the moment, but even after good games I always analyze the small details and see where I can still improve. Dino Toppmöller always gives me hints, small details that I can work on every day and then also in the game."
