Manchester United Transfer News: Top Weekend Rumours and Gossip

Manchester United are ready to outbid Juventus for Edinson Cavani, as they prepare to say goodbye to misfiring striker Radamel Falcao. The Red Devils also know what type of contract it will take to land veteran midfield destroyer Nigel de Jong.

First, United plan to offer as much as £60 million for Cavani this summer. In an exclusive report, Daily Star writer Jeremy Cross claims manager Louis van Gaal will be given the green light to offer that sum only if he achieves a top-four finish this season.

United seem to be trying to put together a financial package strong enough to ward off competition from around Europe. Perennial Serie A winners Juventus had been linked with a £33 million offer, per Le10 Sport (h/t Daily Express reporter Charles Perrin).

But United could have a greater need than the Turin giants. In particular, the Red Devils have been left unimpressed by the form of high-priced loanee Falcao.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The usually prolific Colombian has scored just four goals since joining from Monaco last summer, per WhoScored.com. It also seems as though the player himself may not be enamoured with life at Old Trafford.

At least that's the view of his agent, Jorge Mendes. He recently directly criticised Van Gaal, per ESPN (h/t Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst):

"

He is a champion. I miss Ferguson at Manchester United. With him and this squad the situation would be different.

I know that if they give Falcao five complete matches, I am convinced that he would score goals in practically all of those matches.

"

The impasse with a player Van Gaal doesn't appear to completely trust could prompt a move for Cavani. However, the Uruguayan is hardly without his own problems.

Chief among them is a struggle to fit alongside Paris Saint-Germain's talisman striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Much like Falcao's own difficulty playing next to Robin van Persie at Old Trafford, Cavani is better when he's the focal point of his team's attack.

That's a problem highlighted by B/R writer Alex Dimond:

But for all his struggles, Cavani does boast deceptive quickness, power and height. They are all qualities that lend themselves well to the rugged environment of England's top flight. He's netted 16 goals this term, per WhoScored.com.

For his part, the 28-year-old recently declared he's "very happy" in the French capital, per ESPN FC. Van Gaal will have to decide if he can really justify spending £60 million to pry him away.

That may be a tough sell considering United have ample other needs. Among them is a true holding player to balance an attack-minded midfield.

Van Gaal appears to know who he wants. He's tabbed ageing Netherlands international Nigel de Jong.

According to Italian outlet Leggo (h/t Sport Witness and Manchester Evening News reporter David Lynch), United will be expected to offer a contract worth £2.6 million a year.

The figure may sound a steep for a 30-year-old last seen in England winning the Premier League with United's neighbours Manchester City. But De Jong has attributes Van Gaal's current midfield lacks.

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Specifically, he's a rugged tackler who combines his overt physicality with intelligent positional sense. De Jong is also very underrated on the ball. He's an accomplished passer who keeps things simple and rarely wastes possession.

The one-time City man is perfect for the patient game Van Gaal wants. He would provide an obvious platform to give the likes of Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria greater freedom to foray forward.

Signing a player he knows well from the international setup, even on a contract this loaded, is one of the smarter moves Van Gaal could make this summer.

As for Cavani, if Van Gaal really wants to solve his striker problem, he should choose between Falcao and Van Persie, before moving Wayne Rooney back into his natural position.