Lille plotting move for Inter Milan centre-back Benjamin Pavard | OneFootball

Lille OSC are plotting an ambitious move to bring Benjamin Pavard back to his formative club, according to a report from Foot Mercato. The 29-year-old was a Lille Academy product before his 2016 transfer to VfB Stuttgart, where his performances caught the eye of France manager Didier Deschamps. Deschamps made Pavard the starting right-back in Les Bleus‘ title-winning run to the 2018 World Cup.

The door is reportedly open for Pavard to leave Inter Milan, where he is under contract until 2028, after joining from Bayern Munich. It is expected that a transfer fee near the €20m mark would be enough for the Nerazzurri to join the negotiating table. The competition to sign Pavard is expected to be fierce. Foot Mercato understands that Pavard had been in brief talks with Saudi Pro League’s Neom SC whereas Galatasaray have made the versatile defender a priority signing.

Lille are reportedly aware of the complexity of such a deal to bring Pavard home. The Lille Academy product would be the fourth 2018 World Cup winner to join Ligue 1 this summer, after Monaco’s Paul Pogba, Lens’ Florian Thauvin and Lille’s Olivier Giroud. Should they fail in their pursuit of Pavard, Lille would be keen to sign Fenerbahçe centre-back Diego Carlos on loan as they need a replacement for Bafodé Diakité, who joined Bournemouth.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval