Predicting an Ideal Summer Scenario for PSG's Edinson Cavani

If last summer was anything to go by, this summer will be another busy off-season for Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani.

The capital club’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, told Le Parisien (h/t ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman) that the Uruguayan is going nowhere at the end of this current campaign, but that is unlikely to stop him from being linked further with a host of top European sides.

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It has not been an ideal season for El Matador.

The 28-year-old has scored just eight Ligue 1 goals, and despite impressing in Les Parisien’s UEFA Champions League run, he has failed to thoroughly convince many of the PSG supporters that he has what it takes to replace star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the long run.

His double as a substitute in the 4-0 Coupe de la Ligue final victory over SC Bastia last Saturday were his first domestic goals since his Coupe de France strike against AS Monaco back in early March. 

Although by no means a total flop, Cavani arguably played his best football in the first six months of his time so far at Parc des Princes.

It will take a string of strong performances—the sort of form we saw from him at Stade de France last weekend—while Ibrahimovic is suspended domestically and in Europe over the coming weeks to put himself into a more favourable position.

Scoring twice in the Coupe de la Ligue final was a good start to a crucial period for the South American without the Swede, but now he needs to build on that.

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Before turning thoughts to his future, though, Cavani’s main focus this summer will be his Copa America campaign with Uruguay in Chile.

With Barcelona’s Luis Suarez suspended for the tournament, along with Atletico Madrid pair Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, the PSG No. 9 will be expected to lead La Celeste out of Group B. Oscar Tabarez’s men are the defending titleholders and have been drawn alongside Argentina, Paraguay and Jamaica.

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Although the Reggae Boyz are unlikely to put up much resistance as tournament guests, Uruguay will be expected to fare better than just a third-place finish in the group, and Cavani will be a key part of the 68-year-old tactician’s plans.

This will require full concentration from Cavani, so any transfer talk about his future will likely take place after the tournament and not before.

With that in mind, any potential ideal summer scenario for the former Palermo and Napoli man almost certainly involves him and his Uruguay team-mates faring well in their attempted title defence.

Brazil and group opponents Argentina will be two of La Garra Charrua’s strongest rivals for an appearance in the final, but Uruguay should still fancy their chances of a quarter-final or semi-final finish depending on the draw they receive.

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With that secured, two things could happen; one is Cavani could leave PSG with Ibrahimovic staying, the other is Zlatan could actually be the one making a move, with El Matador the one remaining in Paris.

Whatever the outcome this summer, it appears an unlikely scenario that both will remain at Parc des Princes because of the simple fact both want to play the same central attacking role as the focal point of the side.

There can be no doubt Ibrahimovic has earned the right to be considered indispensable in that role because of what he has achieved at PSG. However, this season so far has been the Swede’s most difficult in Paris— even if he has recently burst into a spell of prolific form.

If the choice were to come down to one or the other, there is little to no chance PSG would make Ibrahimovic leave of their own volition in order to keep hold of a younger player with an eye on longer-term sustainability.

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To be fair, the capital club would probably not actively look to sell Cavani either, but they might be more willing to accept an offer from another team if one was forthcoming.

One scenario that barely gets mentioned though—and perhaps should with Ibrahimovic in his current rich vein of form—is the possibility of the 33-year-old leaving France this summer.

Currently, Zlatan is five goals behind all-time PSG top scorer Pauleta’s total of 109. There is still a chance the super Swede reaches this target by the end of the season, despite his various bans. If this were to happen, aside from a Champions League title, what would he target next in Paris?

The French capital outfit’s talisman could decide he has achieved all he can with the team and express his interest in leaving for a new challenge. Although not a probable scenario, it is also not beyond the realms of possibility, especially considering his reaction to his recent domestic suspension.

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Such a decision from Ibrahimovic would automatically make Cavani indispensable to PSG and ensure they would not sell him in the same summer.

The Uruguayan staying and playing out wide for another season is unlikely at this point, so it could be his future at the club depends on whether or not Ibrahimovic breaks Pauleta’s all-time scoring record.

Whatever the outcome, Cavani’s ideal summer scenario will be guaranteeing himself a role—either at PSG or elsewhere—that allows him to occupy his preferred position on the pitch.

What he must do between now and the end of the season is prove that he can excel in it—something he has not always done since arriving.