With Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk over 30 years old, the development of future defensive leader Joe Gomez has stalled, and French defender Ibrahima Konate is the only young, reliable central defender in Liverpool.
They are eager to rejuvenate their midfield this summer and are expected to reinforce at least three players. At the same time, they are also looking to secure a new center half, with Nathaniel Phillips, fifth in the pecking order, increasingly likely to leave the club.
Liverpool is targeting a left-handed center half, and now rumors have resurfaced of a bid for Bayern defender Banjaman Pavard, who was believed to have already withdrawn from the fray.
According to Christian Falk, a German journalist, Barcelona, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all looking at opportunities for the player.
“Many clubs in England are interested in Pavard,”
“I think Pavard is a player who is looking at the project at City and sees what role he can play there. Barcelona still doesn’t have the money to compete with Premier League clubs.”
“Liverpool and Pavard. They talked with the agents but have never been concrete with the club and that’s also the positions of the other clubs. There aren’t many clubs which are of interest to Pavard. There was and is Barca, there’s Liverpool, Chelsea, then if City are on the table, City too.”
Caught Offside
The French defender has made a total of 162 appearances for Bayern Munich, but has announced that he will not renew his contract, which is tied until 2024, and to avoid a free transfer, the German champions are preparing to sell him this summer.
He is a highly utility defender who can also play right full back, which makes him easy to use for coach Jurgen Klopp. However, as mentioned above, Liverpool will not have the upper hand in the battle for Pavard, given their requirements for a player who is left-handed and plays mainly at left center half.
Will Liverpool be able to strengthen their midfield and also bring a center half into the team, as they hope to do…?