Newcastle scout defender who scored one of the World Cup’s greatest goals

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Newcastle United need reinforcements for the Champions League next season, and could turn to a World Cup winner in Benjamin Pavard.

The Magpies are going to be competing in Europe’s elite competition very soon, and Eddie Howe will need to improve his squad to handle the rigours of competing on multiple fronts.

While Newcastle have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League this season, it has been claimed that the club will look to strengthen at the back during the summer transfer window.

And a new name who appears to be on Dan Ashworth’s radar is Pavard.

Newcastle scouted Benjamin Pavard on Saturday

According to 90min, Newcastle scouts watched Bayern Munich lose 3-1 to RB Leipzig on Saturday, 48 hours before the Magpies guaranteed Champions League football.

Toon officials were looking at a Champions League calibre player, with 90min stating that they were paying close attention to Pavard.

The Frenchman played the full game at centre-back at the weekend, where he has made most of his appearances this season. In 29 Bundesliga games, Pavard has been at centre-back on 17 occasions and right-back for the other 12 fixtures.

The 27-year-old can play at right-back, which means he could provide cover for Kieran Trippier, who has played in every Newcastle game this season.

That versatility could appeal to Howe, who is a big fan of players who can operate in multiple roles. It will surely be his ability at centre-back that is most appealing, as it is a position that the club are looking to improve. If Pavard were to arrive, he would challenge Fabian Schar for a place in the starting XI.

Schar is a fan favourite on Tyneside, and is known for scoring wondergoals every now and then. And that is something Pavard can do himself.

That is because he scored the goal of the tournament at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Playing at right-back for France, Pavard struck an outrageous half volley against Argentina, with his sliced effort helping them into the quarter finals of the competition. They would go on to win the whole thing, beating Croatia in the final.

It was an incredible goal from Pavard, who would massively endear himself to Toon fans with a goal like that in black and white. For now he is just being scouted, but it is a hint to the calibre of player they could be targeting this summer.