Manchester United Transfer News: Ezequiel Lavezzi Rumours Fuelled by Pedro Fears

Manchester United are reportedly making contingency plans should their pursuit of Barcelona winger Pedro not come to fruition, with Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi lined up as an alternative option.

According to Declan Whooley of the Irish Independent, Super Deporte suggested that the Red Devils may look to the Argentina man to give their forward line a boost. It’s noted that relations are good between the two clubs after the recent sale of Angel Di Maria and that Lavezzi fancies a crack at the Premier League.

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Here’s a look at what the Red Devils would be getting if they could lure the former Napoli man away from the Parc des Princes:

As noted in Whooley’s piece, despite recent reports linking United with a move for Barcelona winger Pedro, the club have yet to make a formal offer that meets the reported release clause of €31 million in the player’s contract.

Here’s how Lavezzi compared in direct comparison with Pedro last season in league matches:

	Pedro	Lavezzi
Apps (Sub)	15 (20)	19 (12)
Goals	6	8
Assists	6	2
Shots per game	1.1	1.1
Key passes per game	0.7	0.9
Dribbles per game	0.6	0.6

Lavezzi would certainly represent an intriguing option for United. At his best, the 30-year-old is a bustling and industrious presence at the sharp end of the pitch.

However, according to Sport Witness, there doesn’t seem to be much in the reports linking the Albiceleste star with a switch to Old Trafford:

Pedro is the player who seems a perfect fit for United. With Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal previously outlining a need for a player to come in who can amalgamate “speed and creativity,” per Joe Bernstein of the Mail On Sunday, the Spanish international star certainly fits the bill.

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On either flank, the 28-year-old will provide width, discipline, work rate and a canny knack of getting in great positions to score goals. Unlike Lavezzi, Pedro also has a few more years left at his peak and the prospect of a move to Old Trafford would surely rejuvenate a player who has an immense amount of quality.

Sergi Dominguez thinks that given the injury problems in Barcelona’s squad, it’s no surprise they are temporarily digging their heels in:

United should only turn to Lavezzi as a last resort. Granted, he’s an excellent footballer who has proven he can score goals at the very highest level, but after getting rid of Di Maria, the worst thing the Red Devils could do is bring another player whose attributes don’t align with those of the Dutch boss.

Pedro’s qualities do, though, and he’s a talent that is blessed with all the traits needed to give United an exciting attacking edge going forward. Even though Red Devils supporters are getting a little impatient by the fact a deal has yet to be done, should United eventually get the transfer over the line, the Barcelona man will be worth the wait.