PSG Keenest on Cavani, but Real Madrid Could Swoop as Well

Last week, French radio station RCM Sport reported that Paris-Saint Germain had struck an agreement with Napoli for Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani (Metro), but with neither club nor the player having confirmed the story, a door has been opened for Real Madrid to enter the bidding war for the 26-year-old.

Madrid, who exited the Champions League at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, are poised to lose their Primera Division title to Barcelona, and with little meaningful depth behind strikers Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain, they're thought to be in the market for a proven goalscorer.

A lack of a cutting edge has cost Madrid dearly this season—something that was never more evident than during the opening quarter hour against Dortmund at the Bernabeu, in which the hosts created countless opportunities but could not find the back of the net.

Acquiring Cavani, who has scored more than 30 goals in each of his three seasons at Napoli, would go a long way toward solving that problem, and the player has previously suggested a switch to Real Madrid would represent a dream move. (Sportqa)

Madrid would also have no problem triggering Cavani’s release, which is thought to be between €63 and €70 million. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis might be resigned to losing his best player, but he will in no way dissuade a bidding war for his services.

“If some nutter is willing to pay €70 million for him, we are ready to listen,” he said recently (Daily Mail)

But PSG also have reasons for placing Cavani atop their summer transfer wishlist.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 32 goals for the Ligue 1 champions-elect this season, may be headed back to former side Juventus before next season, and his exit would leave a gaping hole up top for manager Carlo Ancelotti.

According to the RMC Sport story, PSG have already offered Cavani an annual salary of €8.5 million and have used the presence of the player’s former Napoli teammate Ezequiel Lavezzi as extra incentive.

But with so many variables in this transfer saga, the tension could continue to build until the first domino falls, and with their victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund might just have provided the nudge.

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