Manchester United may be about to prove Edinson Cavani right from several years ago if they complete a move for Bayern Munich star Benjamin Pavard. The Red Devils have accepted a £30million offer from West Ham for the signing of Harry Maguire, ending a tumultuous period for the England international at Old Trafford.
Maguire was stripped of the United captaincy earlier this summer after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag. The centre-back was made available to leave the club with West Ham now swooping in to sign him.
While United were happy to let Maguire leave, a replacement will be needed with Pavard touted as a potential option. According to Sky Germany, United are holding ‘concrete talks’ to sign the versatile defender.
Pavard has indicated that he wants to leave the club this summer despite Thomas Tuchel pushing to keep him at the club. The Frenchman is already regarded as one of Europe’s best defenders, something Cavani appeared to predict when the defender first burst onto the scene.
Pavard made his professional debut in Ligue 1 with Lille back in 2015 and played against Paris Saint-Germain in just his fifth senior match. Lille went on to lose the clash 6-1 with Pavard coming on as a late substitute, but Cavani sought out the defender after the match.
The Uruguayan was said to be so impressed by Pavard’s display in just 15 minutes that he asked the young defender for his shirt. Pavard was shocked as he asked: “Wait, you want my shirt?”
Cavani clearly knew Pavard would go on to have a successful career with the 27-year-old now a World Cup winner along with his multiple league titles at Bayern. United could provide Pavard with that next step for his career as Ten Hag looks to return the club to the top of the Premier League ladder.
If Pavard can continue living up to the expectations Cavani had for him, then United will certainly be on to a guaranteed winner. United will still need to convince Bayern into selling Pavard with the Bundesliga side reluctant to let him leave.
The Red Devils also have a list of alternative targets, but Pavard would arguably be the best of the bunch.