Manchester United Transfer News: Edinson Cavani Bid Reported, Jordi Alba Blow

News from Italy has emerged that Manchester United have placed a £56 million bid for Uruguay hitman Edinson Cavani.

David Kent of the Daily Mail reports that the Red Devils are flexing their financial muscle and that Italian newspaper Tuttosport says the player is Louis van Gaal's top target.

The 27-year-old has only been at Paris Saint-Germain one season but is said to be unhappy. Despite this, Cavani has scored 25 goals in 43 games, per Kent, even though he played most of the year out of position in order to accommodate Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

He has mainly featured in a wide attacking role rather than in his preferred striker position, and it is that lack of prominence that United wish to pounce upon.

Cavani is one of two overseas deals the Reds have been looking into, with Spanish left-back Jordi Alba also monitored in case negotiations for Southampton's Luke Shaw fall through.

101 Great Goals reports that Barca have made it clear that Alba is not for sale through Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

The Catalan press label Alba "non-transferable" and that Barcelona's response to United's interest was "unambiguous," per 101 Great Goals.

Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press

News of a move for Cavani will worry United's current forward line, with Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News recently speculating that the likes of Wayne Rooney will not be feeling totally confident of his place in the United starting XI:

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Wayne Rooney is arguably not as secure in the new set-up as he would have been under the deposed David Moyes.

Danny Welbeck has enjoyed a more free-scoring time generally with England than at United and will be looking to impress Van Gaal while he’s at the World Cup with England.

Javier Hernandez is probably most under threat by any movement in the make-up of the Reds strike department during this summer. He was unhappy in the Moyes era and didn’t get much of a look in.

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Jon Super/Associated Press

Robin van Persie's relationship with Dutch manager LvG should guarantee that he reclaims his spot in the side next season but Rooney, Welbeck and Chicharito should be worried by the latest developments.

Cavani is a world-class striker and at only 27 years old is coming into his prime.

Rooney posted good statistics last season, but it is yet to be seen if he can be accommodated successfully in Van Gaal's preferred 4-3-3 system. It is a formation that should not give the Uruguay international any problems, although he may once again find himself forced out wide.

Alba should end up being no loss to United, especially if Shaw is to arrive at Old Trafford. He is an excellent full-back, and it is no surprise that the Catalan club would be hugely against selling the player on.