Report: FC Barcelona linked with Bayern Munich target Benjamin Pavard

According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona may be looking to hijack the transfer of Benjamin Pavard to Bayern Munich. The French World Cup winner, who has repeatedly denied reports of an impending transfer, has been heavily linked with a move to the Munich over this past summer. If this MD report is true, Barca may be trying to pull off another Malcom and get in Bayern’s way.

So, could it be true?

Let’s look at what we know. Benjamin Pavard has basically refused to comment on a possible transfer, saying that he’s fully committed to Stuttgart. However, that doesn’t mean much — any player in his position would say the exact same thing. Stuttgart’s sporting director Michael Reschke, who was Bayern Munich’s technical director until a year ago, has repeatedly said that Pavard would not leave this year, which ended up being the case. However, Reschke did leave the door open to a transfer in the summer of 2019.

Now, several reputable German media sources claim that a deal is in place to bring Pavard to Munich next season, with Bayern paying the defender’s €35m release clause. Those reporting it include Christian Falk of Sport Bild, a journalist with known ties to the club. What MD now claims is that FC Barcelona have been “offered” the chance to sign Pavard, and that the deal could be pursued because he is a great right back.

Now, here’s why you don’t need to worry (if you’re a Bayern fan):

• Mundo Deportivo is a known pro-Barca newspaper and has ties to the club’s board. Their transfer rumors are always designed to make Barcelona look good, factual reporting be damned. MD reported Goretzka to Barca and Thiago to Barca, and we all know how those turned out.
• Benjamin Pavard isn’t actually a right-back, and the idea that he would move to Spain to play out of position when he can stay in Germany and keep playing at center-back is somewhat far-fetched. Besides, Barcelona already have Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo to play at the position, would they really pay €35m to buy another makeshift fullback?
• Bayern went through the exact same thing with Goretzka last year. Barcelona and Liverpool were involved, there was a ton of speculation, and ill-informed sources were being treated as gospel. In the end, no matter what the media said or did, Bayern Munich still got their man.

While the Benjamin Pavard saga won’t be over until he’s standing next to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge holding a jersey with his name on it, reports like this one really shouldn’t be given any importance whatsoever.