Transfer Talk: Big Ben arrival could call time on Walker's City career

Benjamin Pavard could be heading to Manchester City this summer. 

Reports claim the Premier League champions want to sign the Bayern Munich defender, with veteran Kyle Walker heading in the opposite direction. 

Yet with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea also having been linked with the 27-year-old Frenchman, Etihad chiefs could face serious competition for his services. 

As Bayern prepare for their pre-season friendly against City next Wednesday, we explore Pavard's situation and his future options. 

Contract rebel

Pavard has only one year remaining on his contract and refused Bayern's offer to extend his stay in Munich.

This has forced the Bundesliga champions into a situation where they must sell the World Cup winner this summer if they are to recoup any of the reported £31.4million fee that they paid for him in 2019. 

It seems the Bavarians want to first secure a replacement for the right-back, in the shape of England international Walker. 

That would pave the way for Pavard to move to City in a deal that would suit both parties. 

Walker also has only a year remaining on his contract and at the age of 33, would leave Pep Guardiola's team for a relatively small fee. 

However, Bayern will expect to negotiate a larger sum for Pavard, with an asking price of £27.4m the rumoured fee required to prise him away from the Allianz Arena.

That money could then be put towards other targets, with boss Thomas Tuchel linked with an approach to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham. 

Central defender

The signing of Pavard would make a lot of sense for City following their tactical developments last season. 

Walker fell out of favour as Guardiola switched from using a back four to a 3-2-2-3 formation, which utilised three centre-backs in the defensive positions. 

Though known as a right-back, Pavard spent much of last season playing as a central defender. 

In a campaign which started with Julian Nagelsmann as manager and ended with Tuchel in charge, Pavard played slightly more games as a centre-back as Bayern shifted between systems. 

As a central defender, he was generally employed on the right of the back three, which is where he would operate for City. 

The 6ft 1in international would give Guardiola the flexibility to either persist with his most recent formation or to switch to a more regular back four when needed. 

With the English champions also in the market for left-sided central defender Josko Gvardiol, they look committed to their new strategy. 

Liverpool interest

As much as the Pavard deal makes sense for City, they are not the only club interested. 

That is hardly surprising considering that the Lille academy graduate is still in his prime and available at a relatively cheap fee. 

It would be a deal that would make sense for a resurgent Liverpool, who also ended last season playing a 3-2-2-3 formation. 

Jurgen Klopp could see Pavard as the ideal central defensive partner to Virgil van Dijk, given the need for a player to be able to cover the right side when Trent Alexander-Arnold moves into midfield. 

Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked, while cash-strapped Barcelona hope to persuade Bayern's No5 to join on a free next summer.