John Stones.
Benjamin Pavard
- Thread starter UnitedSofa
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Unless you believe we're about to switch to a permanent 3 at the back, you surely see he's not leaving a starting berth at Bayern to sit on our bench wishing on a prayer for a chance at CB?
Getting PT whilst "competing" for a CB is about the best he can hope for; I doubt even he believes he can usurp Varane outright.
Praise EtH when it goes right and criticise Murtough/Arnold and co when it goes wrong alert!
Pavard really can’t play inside, that’s why to me he’ll play the 3rd CB staying back to allow more freedom for our midfielders.
Also I never saw Pavard play DM, and not sure he has the qualities to do it
Yes please 
I always thought most realised Schweini was going to be a bust before he came.
Would be an absolute fantastic signing, and would let us manage Varane´s playing time without dropping much in quality. 27 is no age for a CB, so he could easily even take over after Varane.
This seems the best option - which side of CB does he prefer?
We're looking to sign amrabat though who will both partner and replace casemiro at times this season if we get the deal done.
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Over 100 appearances for Bayern, 49 caps for France, he is clearly a quality player and would be a very astute signing for what appears to be an absolute bargain price, over to you Mr. Murtough.
I think he'll get plenty of playing time at CB, regardless. Certain matches he might play at RB for tactical reasons. If he's not happy with the current situation and doesn't think he can usurp Varane by the end of the season, then the move probably isn't best for all parties.
We have two RBs. Regardless of how people rate them, we're not signing someone to start ahead of them both.
That's why I think Todibo is a more likely signing. Will all depend on asking price though. Tapsoba and Guehi are most likely going to cost too much.
Agreed Our right back options are poor for a team wanting to win the league. He’s a solid upgrade. AWB or Dalot can be sold if we get him in perhaps.
Has never really seemed that defensively astute whenever I've seen him. Is he better than Todibo, who I've never seen, but reads like a bit of a beast on paper?
Seems very unlikely given one has just signed a new contract and the other is in negotiations to extend. Doubt we'd get anywhere close to what we'd want for them either.
Out of Benjamin Pavard, Todibo and Tapsoba, I would personally buy Todibo. In a Ten Hag system where United play with a high line, he's exactly what we need. Good recovery pace, hard in the tackle, and can play a pass. I honestly think he's the heir replacement to Varane alongside Martinez for the next few years. He sorta reminds me of Rudiger with how he goes in for tackles and drives up the field with the ball so if we're getting a defender anywhere near him, I'll take him everyday of the week. Kim Min-Jae would've been my first choice obviously but since he's gone, I really think Todibo is the next best thing available. Todibo can also play at RB. If we want to turn this transfer season up a notch, I would sell AWB or Dalot and get Benjamin Pavard as a replacement.
Damn. Kim would have been an amazing signing but Pavard is a brilliant squad option. Could slot in straight away at RB and steps in when Varane is inevitably injured.
This thread escalated.
Im just glad that we clearly mean business with transfers this year, we’ve had many dull years.
Im just glad that we clearly mean business with transfers this year, we’ve had many dull years.
a notch?
As well as getting rid of at least 3-4 albatrosses.
Unheard of really at United.
a notch? We are looking at buying 6 players who each are better than what we have and raise not only our first 11 but our playing squad.
As well as getting rid of at least 3-4 albatrosses.
Unheard of really at United.
Things change quickly and Pavard starting and both of those options on the bench seems abit overkill but who knows. I guess they’ve been used sparingly at left back on occasion if my memory is correct.
Yeah but this notion “he’s coming to play CB” you and others are mentioning; you see that unless it’s 3 at the back, it doesn’t matter what he thinks because he isn’t better than Varane and he’d prefer to play RB over getting sporadic playing time at Varane and the manager’s behest?
And Dalot is just as much an understudy at LB as he is at RB, so we can say: one covering RB in AWB and an eclectic FB in Dalot who serves as immediate cover on the left and a rotation cover on the right, should Pavard arrive.
Ultimately, Pavard will eventually become the cover, even at RB, imo. I don’t think he’ll ever be a true starting CB here unless we go 3 at the back - Varane’s successor will still be sought, just not this window and in the meantime, Pavard gets his chance to cement his own starting berth in the face of much stiffer competition.
First thought about Pavard is that he's the kind of quality that you have on the bench if you're a big side competing for big trophies.
If the outgoings leave and we get Amrabat and a CB, I'll rate this transfer window 9 out of 10. It could be a 10 if we get another striker.
Surprised how many are skeptical about him, at 30m he's an absolute steal. Only issue would be if he "demands" to play exclusively CB because his versatility is what makes him actually valuable.
I don't think anyone doubts his quality, especially at the price, but it's more down to whether we should go short term or long term again.
I also don't think it's a good idea to sign him to play RB, even if he's happy with that, which I doubt he would be. I do acknowledge that he'd be an upgrade in that department though.
And then we go full Chelsea and fight against relegation all season long.
Agreed only have to look at our neighbours to prove your point. This could be a great window but again our bench… if we need a goal…like last season… will look abit pants.
A 27 years old player isn't a short term option. And signing a 23 years old player because he is 23 years old isn't a long term plan either, most players regardless of age don't remain at their current club more than 3 to 5 years even when they are a success and outside of world class players few remain starters beyond 5 years.
I wouldn’t call him short term at his age though. At worst he adds important squad depth for 4/5 years and at best he competes with Varane to take his spot in a year or two.
He would put us in a decent position to spend the next few years looking for the next potential world class CB, without any urgency, similar to Gvardiol and City.
Agree. We should go for high potential
Imagine labelling a 27 year old as a "short term option".
Not every player needs to be some 20 year old wonderkid.
£25.91m for Pavard?
£30m for Maguire?
Surely this is a no brainer?
£30m for Maguire?
Surely this is a no brainer?27 is the new 30 here it seems and its called short term opion.
Todibo is just 4 years younger ffs.
Todibo is just 4 years younger ffs.
If we sign Amrabat and Pavard, I would say we are in for the title challenge this season. We are getting close.And then we go full Chelsea and fight against relegation all season long.
Short term probably isn't the right phrase I was looking for. I was more thinking that he'd be expected to make an instant impact and probably play regularly, ahead of someone younger and perhaps more potential.
Both options have their merits.
Not sure there's any point in waiting for the next Gvardiol. City will just sign him as part of their CB merry go round.
Tbh, 4 years is not a small age difference.27 is the new 30 here it seems and its called short term opion.
Todibo is just 4 years younger ffs.
We'd be daft not going for him. Price is good, he's in his prime, flexible squad cover as can play RB and CB. Ticks a lot of boxes.
But that makes little sense for two reasons, first you want players that make instant impact regardless of age because it means that you actually get something out of the player and there isn't a single young player that is guaranteed to reach the level that Pavard reached for the better part of the last 6 or 7 years.
The most likely outcome for players with potential is to not reach their potential, so unless one is a lot cheaper than the other or one has a particular advantage, it makes little sense to choose the player that doesn't give you an instant impact because you don't actually know if the other will give you any impact.
Talking a lot of sense
No I agree, wasn't arguing against that. Pavard is the obvious choice for the price, unless it upsets squad balance somehow.
I think there will be plenty of opportunity to play CB given Varane's fitness concerns and needing to managed. I don't think we'll see him at RB that much, like some do.
I'd honestly be happy with either Pavard or Todibo, for different reasons. I think they'll both add quality at CB.