Liverpool is currently in talks to sign Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard, and their pre-season training camp in Germany presents a unique chance to scout him in person and continue negotiations.
During their pre-season preparations, Liverpool will also travel to Asia for friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich, offering them an opportunity to progress on the signing of Pavard while increasing their fitness ahead of the new season.
The 27-year-old French World Cup winner is in the final year of his contract at Bayern, earning €96,000 per week. This contract situation could enable Liverpool to secure his services at a discount, provided Bayern is willing to sell.
Jurgen Klopp has a history of securing similar deals. As he did with the signing of Thiago Alcantara in 2020, a year before his contract expired at Bayern.
Pavard: A good addition to Liverpool back line
While Liverpool boasts a strong lineup of central defenders with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez. Klopp is wise to consider signing a new center-back due to injury concerns. Given the past injury issues of the first-choice defenders, having a solid backup plan is crucial.
Furthermore, signing Pavard would offer Klopp the flexibility to experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role. The talented right-back has shown his suitability for a midfield position towards the end of the previous season. And Klopp may consider deploying him in that role at times during the upcoming campaign.
With Pavard in the squad, Klopp could deploy him at right-back or right center-back, allowing Trent to move into midfield. Or even switch to a 3-2-2-3 formation during games to optimize ball progression lanes and tactical options.
The prospect of signing Pavard not only strengthens Liverpool’s defensive options but also opens up exciting possibilities for the team’s tactical setup, making him a valuable addition to the squad. Liverpool’s match against Bayern Munich in the Singapore Festival of Football on August 2 could play a significant role in advancing the negotiations and potentially securing the services of the talented French defender.
