Real Madrid join Chelsea in race for Pavard

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 13 Jan 2023 15:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Benjamin Pavard has made it clear he sees his future beyond Bayern Munich, and it was widely expected a move to the Premier League and Chelsea would be his next step…

Pavard is in his fourth season as Bayern's first-choice right-back following his €35 million arrival from VfB Stuttgart in 2019, but his frustration in Bavaria has been steadily growing.

Although he won the World Cup with France as a right-back the summer before he moved to the Allianz Arena, Pavard was a central defender at Stuttgart and would like to play in the position again.

READ: Pavard to Chelsea: The state of play

Chelsea are looking for a player of Pavard's profile, one who can fill in on the flank or as part of back three, with Reece James' injury troubles becoming increasingly problematic, but there is competition for his services.

'Tendency to leave Bayern'

"Pavard's [situation] is still complicated but his tendency is to leave Bayern this summer," reports Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

"The next talks are scheduled for spring at the latest. There are loose talks with Barcelona while Real Madrid also enquired about him. Both clubs are looking for a right-back. Bayern are looking for replacements.

READ: Barcelona & Chelsea target Benjamin Pavard open to 'new project'

Pavard is rated at €29.5m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm and Bayern would likely demand at least that given he has another year to run on his existing contract after this summer - effectively ruling Barca out of the race.

While Chelsea might ask Pavard to play at right wing-back on occasion, Real almost always play with a back four under Carlo Ancelotti, and Dani Carvajal, the incumbent right-back, is still only 31. Antonio Rudiger's travails since swapping Chelsea for Real could ultimately prove an ace in the hole for los Blancos.

"I've been playing in Germany for seven years," Pavard said previously. "I won everything with Bayern. I play football to win and I'm ready to consider new and interesting projects - but as a centre-back."