Liverpool might spend £25 million on a second World Cup winner who would fit in well with their new formation

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard

Liverpool’s priority in this summer’s transfer window has understandably been a much-anticipated midfield revamp.

The Reds’ struggles in their engine room last season were well documented, and even before it was confirmed that James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Juventus mercenary Arthur Melo were all leaving the club, it was clear Liverpool had to strengthen midfield.

By signing Alexis Mac Allister within 11 days of the end of the 2022-23 season, the club bosses wasted no time in addressing such issues. However, the World Cup winner is only the start of the Reds’ recruitment campaign.

Further signings are expected in midfield, with France Under-21 internationals Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone currently leading the speculation in Liverpool’s gossip columns.

But according to reports in Germany, the Reds could sign another Frenchman in a completely different position this summer.

Away from midfield, the centre-back has also been a concern for Liverpool last season. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez would all be injured by at least one point during the season. reaching their former heights.

Also both on the wrong side of 30, with Gomez also struggling for form and confidence, Jurgen Klopp has already hinted that he will strengthen as a centre-back this summer as a result.

“We are currently looking in all departments except the goalkeeper,” the German admitted to reporters last month. “Yes, if there is a good centre-back, I wouldn’t deny it. That’s it. We definitely look at all areas of the pitch.

The Reds are linked with the transfer of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, Micky van de Ven from VfL Wolfsburg and Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, while Chelsea’s Levi Colwill has his admirers at Anfield.

Although all four defenders are under 22, reports from Germany suggest Liverpool are interested in an older option in Bayern Munich star Benjamin Pavard.

One year from his contract in Bavaria, the 27-year-old wants to leave Munich this summer.

Sky Sports Germany have indicated that Bayern would be ready to let him go. They also claim that the Reds are one of the teams interested in the France international, along with Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Manchester United, Man City and Inter Milan, and that he could move between 25 and 35 million. pound sterling.

Meanwhile, BILD’s Christian Falk claims ‘Liverpool are now a prime candidate’ to sign Pavard and the club are negotiating with the defender’s advisers.

Club sources have steered Liverpool away from the reports, insisting the club are not in the hunt for a new right-back this summer. But the versatile French international is more than a right-back.

Admittedly, it would be understandable for viewers to raise their eyebrows at such reports, as the 27-year-old hardly fits the profile of Reds signings under Klopp.

With Alexis Mac Allister becoming the German’s 33rd signing since the start of his first full season at Anfield, only five of those players were over 27 at the time of his signing.

Ragnar Klavan, Alex Manninger, Adrian and Andy Lonergan were all in their thirties when they joined the club.

AKA, a £4.2million back-up centre-back and three backup goalkeepers, two of whom have never kicked a ball in competitions for the club.

Otherwise, Virgil van Dijk is a rare exception to Liverpool’s transfer policy as they secured a world-class player for an initial fee of £20million.

Meanwhile, Gini Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Ben Davies are the only 25-year-olds signed. In other words, the others, including Mac Allister, were still in their prime when he arrived at Anfield.

On the other hand, Pavard is at the peak of his career. But could he follow in Thiago’s footsteps and become a rare exception to Liverpool’s transfer policy by swapping Bayern for Anfield?

It would make perfect sense to sign the 2018 world champion. After all, he is a versatile player who can play as a right-back as well as a centre-back. Although not the fastest, he is very good on the ball and plays well from behind, although he couldn’t match Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist tally.

But it’s precisely because of the England international that a switch from Pavard could make sense given his versatility, as it’s still unclear how formative the Reds will appear next season.

They would, of course, finish the 2022/23 season with an inverted full-back, with Alexander-Arnold pushing down the middle of the pitch when Liverpool had the ball and the right centre-back covering his right-back position.

If such a formation persists, Pavard could be the perfect addition given his comfortable position at both centre-back and right-back.

Of his 43 appearances for Bayern last season, 23 would come in central defense and the remaining 20 on the right wing.

Such experience makes him the ideal profile for the Reds’ overlooked hybrid defensive role. While Konate certainly has the pace to fill both positions, he still had to slowly adjust to his change of role.

With Pavard also able to play on the left if needed, it would be possible to place him in that defensive trio with his compatriot and Van Dijk.
However, his presence would provide more than just an addition to the new 3-2-2-3 system.

Should Liverpool return to their traditional 4-3-3 formation, Pavard would be a proven option at both centre-back and right-back.

The latter role would be particularly beneficial after Milner’s departure this summer, as teenagers Conor Bradley and Calvin Ramsay would be the only natural alternatives to Alexander-Arnold on the right.

While Gomez can play there, Pavard’s presence would allow Klopp to swap the Reds’ number 66 with a senior option, like Kostas Tsimikas’ offer for Andy Robertson on the left, while also offering the possibility of a full switch. in midfield if desired.

And moving away from the traditional profile of young players, signing a 27-year-old wouldn’t really stop Bradley or Ramsay as the young couple are ready to go full-time once the Frenchman turns 30.

So far, hints of Liverpool’s interest in Pavard have not gone beyond German reports and speculation, with club sources dismissing such suggestions as the midfielder remains a priority.

But with the defender still set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, only time will tell if the Reds could attempt to bring a second world champion to Anfield.