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Benjamin Pavard joined VfB Stuttgart from Lille in 2016 and has been a regular figure in his side’s defence. The 22-year-old has played every minute in the 2017/18 Bundesliga season and his performances have not gone unnoticed.

His form for Stuttgart saw debut for France’s senior team in November 2017, and Didier Deschamps has included Pavard in his 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

According to the French newspaper L’Equipe, Arsenal “made an inquiry” about signing Pavard earlier this year. The Gunners are not the only club interested in securing the services of the defender.

Apart from Arsenal, Marseille director of football Andoni Zubizarreta and Napoli have studied the profile of the player and have all made inquiries about Pavard. The north London club, Marseille and Napoli are all “attentive” to the player’s situation.

The report claims that Borussia Dortmund are ahead of the three other European clubs in landing the Frenchman. The Bundesliga outfit are looking to bring in a defender this summer as a replacement for Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who is expected to join Arsenal. Mainz’s Abdou Diallo and Pavard are identified as targets.

Dortmund have already held conversations with Pavard’s agent and Stuttgart sporting director Michael Reschke regarding the defender. Reschke is not so keen on doing business with Dortmund and any approach for the France international will see the interested clubs meet Stuttgart’s asking price of €50m.

At that price, Dortmund are unwilling to do business. Pavard has a desire of playing in the Champions League, something he cannot achieve at Stuttgart. However, he has put any talks about his future on hold until after the World Cup.