Benjamin Pavard interest could be ‘smokescreen’ for Liverpool transfer that suits FSG better

Jürgen Klopp’s midfield department is very much a priority area of concern for Liverpool right now, with Alexis Mac Allister having already been signed as a summer addition from Brighton and Hove Albion. The Reds have lost James Milner, Naby Keïta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on free transfers ahead of next season, which captures why the engine room ranks at the top of Klopp’s to-do list.

Milner’s loss in particular could also be set to influence another area of need, with the seasoned professional also used as a right-back at times throughout his career at Anfield. Next term, the 37-year-old will no longer be around to provide Trent Alexander-Arnold with cover, and this week Liverpool has agreed to send young right-back Calvin Ramsay out on loan to Preston North End.

The Scottish teenager will return to full fitness at the Deepdale Stadium next season as he aims to recover from an injury-hit campaign, but his surprise departure means Klopp has a fresh void to address in his defense. Right now, Alexander-Arnold is the only senior right-back at the club, excluding Joe Gomez who is technically a center-back by trade.

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The sudden need for a right-back explains fresh links with Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich. The French defender has experience in the role on the biggest of stages, having won the World Cup with his national team as a full-back for Didier Deschamps, while also occupying the role on a regular basis in the Bundesliga.

Now aged 27, Pavard would be a relatively sensible transfer option for the Reds to explore, but the rumors have been largely downplayed. It remains to be seen where the French international will end up this summer if he does indeed move away from Bavaria, but the link surrounding his name could be little more than a smokescreen for Liverpool.

The Reds seem much more likely to have a genuine interest in Jurrien Timber, who is one of the most valuable players at Ajax at present. The Dutch club is known for unearthing gems from its prestigious academy, with the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt sold for big transfer fees in recent times.

Timber looks like the next talent to be sold for a huge profit. He has two years left on his contract in Amsterdam, and when asked what lies ahead for him recently (via Dutch website Vandaag Inside) Timber stated: “Will I stay with Ajax? I’m not sure, I can’t say that. I’m not in talks with Ajax now. My agent had a good talk a few times, but it’s not like we’re talking about anything right now.”

Logic suggests that Timber will change clubs this summer, with Liverpool’s supposed interest in Pavard potentially being used as a means of driving down his price. With the Reds having to navigate quite an overhaul in the coming months, Klopp needs to make economic investments when possible.

Unlike 27-year-old Pavard, Timber is aged just 21, and it is reasonable to suggest that he’s more valuable and attack-minded when in possession of the ball, which is perhaps no surprise given his Ajax background. Moreover, since Klopp took charge on Merseyside in 2015, he’s dedicated transfer fees to just two players over the age of 26 in Thiago Alcântara and Ragnar Klavan.

Fenway Sports Group’s recruitment policy is all about signing players who are entering their prime years of performance, rather than those who have progressed beyond that point. Pavard’s best days could now be behind him, whereas Timber is very much one for the future.

Overall, Liverpool’s interest in a new right-back is likely to be genuine considering Milner’s departure and Ramsay’s loan deal, but who Klopp will target to address the concern remains open for debate. Timber seems like a possible option as a player who is also familiar with international teammates Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, but Pavard should be deemed as a wildcard.