Salihamidzic comments on Stanisic-Cancelo battle for a starting place, Pavard/Hernandez extension talks continue
FC Bayern München boss Hasan Salihamidzic praised Croatian right-back Josip Stanisic's performance against PSG in the Champions' League last night. Salihamidzic also commented on the status of Stanisic's direct competitor Joao Cancelo.
Germany's preeminent footballing publication, meanwhile, reports that Salihamidzic and his administrative team are actively working on contract extensions with French defenders Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.
The future look of the Bayern defensive ranks continues to evolve in line with the team's recent results. After a very stellar performance over the weekend, FCB trainer Julian Nagelsmann guaranteed young Croatian right back Josip Stanisic a starting role in last night's mega-matchup against PSG in the Champions' League. Virtually all observers would agree that the 22-year-old passed this important test with flying colors.
Germany's preeminent footballing publication, meanwhile, reports that Salihamidzic and his administrative team are actively working on contract extensions with French defenders Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.
Bayern chief personnel executive Hasan Salihamidzic certainly thought so. Speaking to members of the assembled press corps after last night's victory, Salihamidzic spoke on the state of the battle for a starting slot between Stanisic and new high-profile acquisition Joao Cancelo. The club administrator confirmed that Stanisic had the edge for now.
"He was outstanding," Salihamidzic said of Stanisic, "I'm very enthused about him as he's a young player from our academy. Joao [Cancelo] hasn't been training and playing the way we envisaged lately. We're in regular communication with him. I understand how he [Cancelo] feels, but he is an excellent player who will become important to us in the future."
Apropos players who will ideally play a role in Bayern's future, Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that Salihamidzic and his administrative team are currently actively working on contract extensions with their two French center backs. Kicker reports that the German giants do indeed wish to hang onto slumping French defender Benjamin Pavard and that extension talks are ongoing.
Pavard's French national team colleague Lucas Hernandez - working his way back from injury - was reported to be in agreement with his German club on a contract extension in late December. This was never confirmed. The latest news holds that the Bavarians are presently negotiating with the 27-year-old on a new deal.
Both Pavard and Hernandez sit on contracts set to expire in the summer of 2024.