Manchester United will be eager to improve on their promising first season under Erik ten Hag, and the Dutchman will be looking to bolster his squad as Champions League action is poised to return to Old Trafford after a break last season.
Harry Maguire is one player who has to be expelled from the Red Devils, but he will also be looking at removing some of the deadwood that has dragged United down.
Last month, Tottenham Hotspur was said to be interested in signing the player, and despite comments that he wants to stay at the team and compete for a spot, the Dutchman seems destined to expand his defensive options.
Considering that Maguire only started 16 games last season, only half of which were in the Premier League, and that he currently earns £190k per week yet does not receive consistent playing time, he ought to be replaced.
Benjamin Pavard, a defender for Bayern Munich, has drawn interest from United, according to Football Transfers, and he might be the ideal solution for the team’s ailing captain.
Is it possible that Benjamin Pavard may join Manchester United?
According to reports, the Bundesliga’s juggernauts will let the Frenchman depart if they receive offers around €30 million (£26 million) this summer. Ten Hag might view this as a transaction that gives excellent value.
Throughout his career, the World Cup champion has tended to play more as a right-back, but for Bayern last season, he appeared frequently at center-back, and this adaptability might be a huge asset for Ten Hag as he considers a move.
Given that he ranks in the top 1% of players in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.18) and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 (1.58), Pavard might provide United with an unusual goal threat. The United manager might buy him because of his ability to bring the ball out of defense, though.
The 27-year-old ranks among those in his position among the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 (1.31) and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (7.59) across the major five European leagues, indicating that he would be an ideal fit for Ten Hag’s tactical system, which heavily emphasizes defenders playing out from the back.
In contrast to the Bayern star, Maguire only completes 3.09 progressive passes for every 90 seconds and 0.95 progressive carries for every 90 seconds across Europe’s top five leagues, making him useless should he join.
The former Stuttgart defender was lauded as being a “real talent” by former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger and for a paltry £26m, Ten Hag might not make a better signing in terms of value for money all summer.