Barcelona face Inter Milan battle for €30m right-back, club unwilling to invest heavily | OneFootball

Barcelona have identified Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard as a potential option to bolster the right-back spot in the summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old defender is entering the final year of his contract at the end of the season and is seen as a viable candidate to reinforce at right-back within the Barça offices.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are set to face competition from Inter Milan in pursuit of Pavard.

The Nerazzurri have held a long-standing interest in the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and want to sign him in the summer as a replacement for Milan Skriniar, who has agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter Milan plan to use Pavard as a centre-back on the right side of the three-man backline. The player would find that appealing as he prefers to play as a centre-half than a right-back, which would be the case at Barcelona.

Reports earlier today suggested that Bayern Munich will demand a sum of €30 million for Pavard, so that they could use that amount to sign Joao Cancelo permanently for €70 million.

However, as per SPORT, Barcelona do not have any intention to invest heavily in Pavard in the summer, considering that he is in the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.

While the Catalans regard him as a top-level right-back, they are aware of the disciplinary problems he has had at the club and international levels.

So, even though they see his availability as a good market opportunity, they are unwilling to spend heavily and will see how negotiations progress with other targets progress before taking a final call on Pavard’s pursuit.

Xavi has had to rely on Jules Kounde at right-back this season and the Frenchman has done exceedingly well. But he has previously stated that he wishes to play as a central defender.

And with Hector Bellerin’s time at Camp Nou done, it is imperative that the club sign a new right-back. Whether it will be Pavard or someone else remains to be seen.