Manchester United Transfer News: Edinson Cavani and Harry Kane Eyed, Top Rumours
Manchester United have reportedly identified Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani as their No. 1 target to replace Robin van Persie this summer, but the Red Devils also continue to be linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
According to Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, United boss Louis van Gaal has targeted the PSG star to lead the attack next season, writing that any deal for the Uruguayan could see Angel Di Maria potentially transfer to Paris. Jackson claims the Dutch coach is "open" to Di Maria leaving if he'll expedite a deal for Cavani.
David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror also links the Red Devils to Cavani, but cites Kane and Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke as other targets.
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe ran the rule over some potential options for United up front, with Van Persie seemingly poised to join Fenerbahce, per Luke Augustus of the MailOnline:
Cavani is the most glamorous option of the aforementioned stars. The PSG man is a dynamic forward, capable of playing across the front line, fulfilling the role of a target man or stretching defences in behind with his intelligent movement.
Admittedly, his finishing can be a little erratic, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored:
But Cavani still scored 31 goals for Paris-Saint Germain in all competitions last season, per WhoScored.com. Indeed, for the majority of those matches, the 28-year-old was stationed out on the flanks too, a position the former Napoli man can play, but isn’t at his most effective.
The Uruguayan would be a lucrative option and would most likely command a significant transfer fee. But so would Kane if the Red Devils are serious about going after him in the off-season.
The Spurs man established himself as one of the finest young forwards in European football last season, as we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football:
Kane may not be quite as established as Cavani, nor has he proven he can replicate the startling levels he showcased in 2014-15 season after season.
But in terms of longevity, the 21-year-old is definitely the more sensible option for the Red Devils if they are going to spend big money on a forward this summer.
Giving up Di Maria to bring in Cavani may not appeal to United either. But it’s clear the Parisians have an interest in the Argentina player, as revealed by the club’s manager Laurent Blanc, per l’Equipe (h/t Richard Jolly of ESPNFC.com):
"Di Maria, he's good. We have more freedom, but it remains a difficult project for us because we're not alone in wanting him. When you see the financial power of the English clubs, they are attacking everyone. Competition is very, very tough.
Don't forget, Manchester United paid a fortune to sign him. For us to work effectively, we have to think of other solutions. We must be proactive.
"
Even so, with Spurs likely to be unshakeable in their resolve to sell a local talent such as Kane, in United’s early endeavours to replace Van Persie, Cavani seems the most likely option for the Old Trafford club to pursue.
Here’s a look at how the two rumoured targets fared in league matches last season in a plethora of statistical categories:
| Apps (Sub) | 28 (6) | 30 (5) |
| Goals | 21 | 18 |
| Assists | 4 | 1 |
| Shots per game | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Key passes per game | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Dribbles per game | 1.5 | 0.4 |
| Dispossessed per game | 2.8 | 0.7 |
If United can get a deal done for the Uruguayan without relinquishing Di Maria, it’d be a tremendous purchase for the Red Devils. Cavani seems perfectly tailored to not only the Premier League, but the principles instilled by Van Gaal.
As one of English football’s brightest stars, it’s no surprise that the Red Devils preserve an interest in Kane. But the young Spurs star still has plenty to prove and is clearly infatuated by playing for his boyhood club.
At this juncture, for all United’s worldly gravitas and lucrative clout, it’s a deal that looks like a tough one to pull off.
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