Erik ten Hag has reportedly shortlisted Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard as a potential transfer option this summer.
Manchester United are in the market for a right-back as Ten Hag wants competition for Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to fulfil the role long term at Old Trafford. Jonathan Clauss had been identified as a possible candidate to shore up United's defence, but he has since completed a move to Marseille.
It is not thought that United had tabled an offer for the 29-year-old despite them holding an interest, but Ten Hag could now switch attentions to Pavard, who is said to be considering his future in Bavaria. Pavard, 26, was a regular for Bayern last season but is said to be open to a move elsewhere if they can offer him more minutes as a central defender. The arrival of Matthijs De Ligt has further reduced his chances of playing in his preferred role.
Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have all been linked with Pavard, with L'Equipe claiming (via Sport Witness ) that United have also 'indicated' their interest in his services. Convincing Pavard on a move to Old Trafford could prove tricky for Ten Hag though, given he looks set to implement a back four as part of his philosophy.
United already have captain Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly as centre-back options, as well as new signing Lisandro Martinez, which makes it difficult to conceive there would be room for Pavard in a central berth.
Whether Pavard would be keen to accept sticking with his more accustomed right-back role to complete a transfer to United is unclear. He also now faces competition from new signing Noussair Mazraoui, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax. L'Equipe suggest that Pavard's links to other big clubs could just be a tactic to try and give him some leverage in contract discussions with Bayern as he seeks a new deal.
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Pavard's current deal runs until 2024, increasing the prospect of a move next summer if an extension hasn't been finalised by then. The report values the versatile France international at around €35m (£30m).
Ten Hag has been keeping tabs on various defensive targets, with a reunion with Ajax's Jurrien Timber top of his wishlist. However, Timber looks set to pen a new deal in Amsterdam, forcing Ten Hag to look elsewhere.
The United boss has already stated that he is prepared to promote players from the club's academy if they cannot identify and sign players in the positions he feels require strengthening. He has already swooped to sign Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, who gave an insight into what Ten Hag demands from his full-backs.
“He [Ten Hag] wants to attack with the left-back and right-back, so that's what he wants," Malacia told Sky Sports. "He has a system and he wants me to play like this, and that's something we speak about." Malacia's comments dampen any theories Ten Hag could be convinced into utilising a back three, something former bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have used previously.
