A single of Liverpool’s reported midfield targets for the summer season transfer window is Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch.

According to Sky Sports, the Reds have currently been in touch with the player’s camp to make their ‘pitch’ more than a prospective move to Anfield and are now hoping to strike an agreement with the Bundesliga giants.

But now it appears but one more Bayern Munich player might be on their radar, this time a single who operates in defense.

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German publication Kicker reports (by way of Sport Witness) that Liverpool is a single of a quantity teams to have ‘asked about’ Benjamin Pavard.

Pavard’s contract expires in 2024 and even though Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić has mentioned the club are in talks with his camp and ‘would love’ to retain him (by way of BeSoccer), the player has lengthy been taking into consideration his future.

The 27-year-old appeals to Liverpool for a couple of factors. Anfield recruitment employees contemplate him ‘one of the most constant players’ in what is been a challenging season for Bayern, who will be dethroned as champion for the initially time considering the fact that 2012 if Borussia Dortmund beats Mainz on Saturday.

But the second is Pavard’s versatility, especially his track record of operating as each a complete-back and a center-half.

Certainly, this season, the Frenchman has split his appearances minutes pretty much equally in between ideal-back (19 instances) and center-back (23 instances).

Liverpool has enquired about Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard(Image: Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Photos by way of Getty Photos)

Pavard is ideal identified for his target-of-the-tournament-winning strike in his country’s four-three win more than Argentina in the 2018 Globe Cup round of 16, but he’s not basically a complete-back who tends to make a specifically significant offensive influence.

Although he created ten direct target contributions from the position in his initially season at Bayern (3 objectives, seven assists), he’s only scored 4 and set up two in 76 appearances there considering the fact that.

When Pavard has played as a ideal-back this season, he’s averaged 19.eight touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes. By contrast, Liverpool counterpart Trent Alexander-Arnold averaged 33.eight final season (when he was a ideal-back all through the campaign rather than a hybrid midfielder).

When you contemplate Bayern Munich’s dominance, it is clear that this is by design and style. Although some complete-backs are converted wingers or midfielders, Pavard is incredibly a lot a defender.

“We neglect that with the ideal-back position, the bottom line is to defend effectively,” he says. “Now, they want you to have stats, to deliver assists and attack. We never spend also a lot consideration when you defend poorly. It really is the football of these days. It has evolved.”

This mindset and style has noticed him applied conservatively by coaches like Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. Frequently Pavard has tucked into kind a back 3 when Bayern has the ball, with the left-sided complete-back granted far much more licence to push forward.

This is precisely the type of player Liverpool requires if it desires to make Alexander-Arnold a completely-fledged midfielder.

There have been issues about the viability of asking Ibrahima Konaté to defend the entire ideal flank when the Englishman is caught up the pitch, but a single way to address that would be to recruit a defensive-minded ideal-back.

This would also assist Andy Robertson, much more suited to an attacking assignment than a fluid left-sided center-back berth.

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On paper, Liverpool would play a four-two-three-1, with Pavard dropping in alongside Konaté and Virgil van Dijk when Robertson joined the attack, and Alexander-Arnold sitting permanently alongside Fabinho.

It really is no surprise to see Liverpool lodge an enquiry since, if the Bayern man is obtainable for a affordable charge as he nears the final 12 months of his contract, then it is a deal with a lot of upside.

Pavard could be an efficient replacement for Joël Matip, must he leave the club this summer season, but beyond that, he could facilitate a distinction-creating adjustment to Jürgen Klopp’s thrilling new method. And if he comes in alongside Alexis Mac Allister, it will be two Globe Cup winners joining the ranks — not undesirable pedigree for the manager to achieve as he loses a wealth of expertise from his squad.