Why PSG's Edinson Cavani Would Be a Terrible Signing for Manchester City

There looks set to be an overhaul of the Manchester City squad this summer. Pep Guardiola will arrive with expectations through the roof, and one look at City’s performances in recent weeks suggests he needs to spend money in order to meet them.

And it looks as though he will. Txiki Begiristain, City’s sporting director, was seen meeting Guardiola in Amsterdam a fortnight ago, with Ilhan Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay’s uncle and agent, also present, according to a report in the Mirror. 

Gundogan, clearly, is a top target and would be ideal. Guardiola favours a possession-based style of play and the Germany international is one of the Bundesliga’s best at keeping the ball.

In the eyes of Guardiola, midfielders are key. There’ll be a serious makeover in that department.

Defensively, too, City need some changes. Vincent Kompany is struggling to play consistently because of his troublesome calves, while Martin Demichelis’ contract expires in the summer, and he is likely to leave.

According to Paul Hirst at the Times, Eliaquim Mangala is free to leave, with City expecting to make a significant loss on the £42 million they paid to bring him from FC Porto in 2014. Their four full-backs are 30 or over, an area in need to revitalising. 

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But what about in attack? Sergio Aguero is a mainstay and a player Guardiola can build his side around. He’s the best out-and-out striker in the Premier League and his form since the turn of the year, once he became injury free, has been exceptional.

Wilfried Bony, however, will surely be sacrificed. He simply doesn’t fit the City side and will be perhaps even less suited to the one Guardiola will build. His lack of movement means he struggles to play an effective role in the side. 

Kelechi Iheanacho, 19, is a star in the making, and Guardiola is likely to give him more game time than Manuel Pellegrini has been prepared to. The Nigerian is a serious talent and that won’t be lost on the former Barcelona boss, whose record for developing young players is impressive.

But if Bony did leave, there’s a strong argument to suggest City would need at least one new striker through the door. Would Edinson Cavani, the 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker, fit the ball?

He’s been consistently played out of position in the French capital, in wide areas rather than centrally as he would prefer, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic the main man.

He still has plenty to offer. His goal record in Paris, despite his less-than-ideal role for much of his time there, is impressive. He’s bagged 75 in 135 games since signing for them in 2013 in a big-money deal, having scored an even more notable 104 in 138 for Napoli.

And he isn’t just a goalscorer. He brings a physical presence to a side. He’s 6’0’’, powerful and prepared to battle defenders. At his best, he’s a nightmare to play against, able to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

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It is perhaps his aerial ability that impresses the most. He wins headed duels with defenders and can score with his head. Given City lack that kind of striker, with Edin Dzeko not properly replaced, he would provide some much needed power—a different option to the nimble and subtle skills of Aguero and Iheanacho.

However, with City needing to reduce the average age of their squad, would he be the right signing? The answer is probably no. His reputation means he would still command a big fee, and City are likely to want to spend their money on younger players with their best years ahead of them.

But perhaps he provides the blueprint for what City need, a target-man striker who can also provide technical quality. Guardiola likes to have a Plan B, and a player like Cavani provides that.

The Uruguayan allows a manager to play slightly more direct if needed. Guardiola has a very particular way of playing, but in the past, even he has recognised the need for a different option to try and change things, if his usual way of playing isn't working. 

If Cavani was available at a decent price, he'd be a great short-term option, but PSG, who paid in excess of £50 million to get him, will rightly feel he has significant resale value. 

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Only West Bromwich Albion have a Premier League squad older than City's. Although the signings of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling have addressed the problem somewhat, Guardiola is likely to try and drastically reduce the average age of their team. 

He'll do that by signing top young talent and promoting from within. City have a healthy group of academy players who want to make the step up. Guardiola has always made it mission, at every club he has been at, to give the best young players first-team chances. 

Cavani, as good as he is, probably doesn't fit City's policy. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.