Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Edinson Cavani, Juan Cuadrado, More

With Dutch manager Louis van Gaal soon to be taking the Old Trafford reins, seeing the Netherlands play so well at World Cup 2014 will bring nothing but encouragement to Manchester United fans.

A manager that brings the best out of players, Van Gaal has orchestrated the Netherlands’ progression to the knockout stage in Brazil and demonstrated exactly what he’ll be bringing to the Premier League next term.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Though United are a team that desperately need rebuilding, having a manager of Van Gaal’s calibre will undoubtedly draw big names to Old Trafford and repair the damage made by David Moyes during his reign of terror in 2013/14.

As Holland continue their assault on the World Cup, more and more players will take note of the Van Gaal revolution in Manchester, including Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani.

Cavani played an integral part in knocking England out of the tournament, turning provider for Luis Suarez’s opening goal in the South Americans’ 2-1 victory, but away from the international stage, his future is unclear.

Fernando Llano/Associated Press

The 27-year-old is reportedly a target of Manchester United, and despite being with Paris Saint-Germain for less than a year, he recently said that there is a possibility of him leaving the French capital—per Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror:

“In football you never know. Anything can happen. One day you’re in one team and the next day you can be in another.”

While Cavani’s philosophical response casts doubt on his life with the Ligue 1 champions, it would be a surprise to see him leave—but a very pleasant one for Manchester United.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Cavani scored 16 goals last season, per WhoScored.com, the joint-second highest total in the league behind PSG teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

His class goes beyond just goalscoring, though, with his movement and intelligent style of play freeing spaces for his teammates—something that Robin van Persie would thrive on at Old Trafford.

With the Dutchman saying during the season that players get in his way at Manchester United—per Jamie Jackson of The Guardian—having a player like Cavani in the fold will undoubtedly bring the best out of Van Persie.

Having Van Gaal in charge is also looking like giving the goal machine a personal boost—a sentiment that defender Rio Ferdinand reflected on in his Mail Online column:

“The whole Dutch squad seem extraordinarily positive. The difference in RVP, who often wasn’t happy last season, is amazing. They believe in their manager, Louis Van Gaal. If he tells them the sun is black and the grass is blue, they believe it!”

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

If the two are combined at Old Trafford, Van Persie could get back to his best, and the 2012/13 campaign showed just how big an impact that can have on a season.

However, one player that looks like shunning the advances of Manchester United is Juan Cuadrado, who has been on the club’s radar for some time.

Fernando Llano/Associated Press

The Colombian starred in Fiorentina’s Serie A season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists according to WhoScored.com, putting him on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs in the process.

The way that he’s played in Brazil has only added to his value, with Opta Joe revealing his contribution to Colombia’s World Cup cause already:

However, as Anthony Chapman of the Sunday Express reported, Cuadrado has said that he’s happy with life in Italy and isn’t looking to move on:

“I am very happy that Fiorentina bought me, they are a great club and Florence is a beautiful city. Now I don't think about my club future, I hope to finish the World Cup very well with Colombia, I only think about that.”

A flying winger, Cuadrado possesses the trickery and pace that suits any counter-attacking side and would bring a touch of class to United’s setup.

Fabrizio Giovannozzi/Associated Press

Being 26 years old and in his footballing prime, the services of Cuadrado at his best look like belonging to Fiorentina, who will undoubtedly benefit from their star man next term.

Both players would be exciting additions to United’s squad, but the Red Devils will be determined not to let Cavani follow in the footsteps of Cuadrado and slip through their fingers.

It looks like there'll be a lot of new personnel at Old Trafford next term, but bringing in quality over quantity will be job number one for Van Gaal.

In Cavani, United would have a striker with proven brilliance at the highest level that would fit into the squad perfectly, and with his future appearing uncertain, now could be the right time for the club to launch an assault to land his signature.