Barcelona have made contact about signing Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with the 26-year-old over the past six months but Romano says Barca are the team who are showing the most interest at the moment:

Barcelona are now showing concrete interest in Benjamin Pavard for summer transfer window. He’s considered one of the potential targets, depending on the conditions. 🔵🔴 #FCB

Pavard’s contract expires in 2024 and contacts with Barça already took place, as German press reported. pic.twitter.com/pCbP0oS7Ym

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2023

As Romano mentions, Pavard has eighteen months remaining on his contract at Bayern and he is unlikely to sign an extension with the Bundesliga champions.

Although he can play as a centre-half, he has been deployed mainly as a right-back at senior level for both club and country. He won the World Cup with France in 2018, racking up 47 caps at international level, but he didn’t feature that prominently in Qatar last month.

There are some concerns about his attitude, although he remains a regular starter for Bayern. We shall see if United do enter the battle to sign Pavard in the coming months.