Arsenal can now get revenge on Manchester United for signing Lisandro Martinez with a transfer from Bayern Munich for Benjamin Pavard against interest from Erik ten Hag.
The Gunners and Red Devils fought for Martinez’s signature before he sealed a switch to Old Trafford last summer. Now, Arsenal and Manchester United could contest another tussle in a transfer window this year. Mikel Arteta has just joined Ten Hag with some interest in Pavard.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have added Pavard to their late-window shopping list as Arteta considers transfers after losing Jurrien Timber to an ACL injury. The Dutchman only just moved to Emirates Stadium from AFC Ajax in July. But he could miss most of the season.
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Arsenal could rival Manchester United to sign Benjamin Pavard
Arsenal are now having internal discussions at Emirates Stadium over how to handle Timber missing several months with an injury. Arteta is open to dipping his toe back into the market for further reinforcements. Pavard is one defender whom Arsenal could target a transfer for.
Pavard is open to leaving Bayern Munich before the European market shuts on September 1. He is also a leading target for Inter Milan with the Serie A side preparing to make an opening offer. While Ten Hag has deemed the 27-year-old as an ideal replacement for Harry Maguire.
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But Manchester United’s swoop to get Pavard to the Premier League has stalled as Maguire remains at Old Trafford. Even though Sky Sports reported last week that Pavard will ‘fight as hard as possible’ to join Manchester United. Der FCB value the Frenchman at £30-35m, too.
Bayern Munich are reluctant to let Pavard leave without a replacement but are considering the 49-cap international’s future in Bavaria. The right-back, who can also play at centre-half, has entered the last year of his contract at the Allianz Arena after 163 matches in four years.
Mikel Arteta can now get revenge for Lisandro Martinez’s transfer
Pavard joined Bayern Munich from VfB Stuttgart in July 2019 after they agreed on a transfer that January. Der FCB paid the €35m (£30m) release clause in the 2018 World Cup winner’s contract. He has since won the Champions League once and lifted four Bundesliga titles.
But Arteta could now get revenge on Manchester United for signing Martinez by demanding Arsenal beat Ten Hag to Pavard’s transfer from Bayern Munich. The Maubeuge-born star can plug Timber’s void in the Emirates Stadium backline and provide Arteta with versatile depth.
Martinez was open to securing a transfer to Arsenal last summer before Manchester United agreed on terms with Ajax. Sky Sports noted when confirming the Argentine’s £56.5m move that the Gunners’ style and a chance to play under Arteta both appealed to the 25-year-old.
The Red Devils, however, outbid the Gunners and ultimately secured his services. Reports in June 2022 by The Athletic noted that Arsenal offered Ajax €40m (£34m) after failing with an initial €30m (£25.5m) bid. Ten Hag had not yet moved to reunite with his former Ajax talent.
Arsenal could regret not targeting a transfer with Bayern Munich
Old Trafford would relish what Martinez brought as he became a staple of Ten Hag’s team at Manchester United. He made the Red Devils a much stronger unit through his superb ability and confidence in possession. The 2022 World Cup winner even developed into a key leader.
Arteta would surely rue opting against Arsenal targeting any transfer with Bayern Munich for Pavard only to then see him join Manchester United and thrive like Martinez has. Pavard can bring title-winning experience to north London and despite his success, remains underrated.
“He’s an underrated player,” Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel declared, via quotes by L’Equipe, back in April. “He can adapt to the highest level and defends rigorously. He is a top team player, he immediately had my confidence and proved to me that I had been right.”