Why Manchester United must attempt to sign PSG’s Edinson Cavani

In an exclusive interview with SPORTbible (h/t Daily Mail), former Netherlands striker Robin van Persie has urged Manchester United to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani in the summer.

Edinson Cavani, 33, has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe over the past decade. He is Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading goalscorer and was awarded with a ‘200’ trophy during a presentation to mark the special moment.

The Uruguayan international is a free agent at the end of the season and it remains to be seen whether or not he extends his contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

Speaking about Manchester United, scoring goals has been a problem for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side so far this season, as they’ve scored 41 in 27 league games so far. Marcus Rashford is the club’s top scorer with 17 goals across all competitions but he is a long-term casualty due to a back injury.

Following the injury to Rashford, Solskjaer signed Odion Ighalo on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season and Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon. Fernandes scored his first goal for the Red Devils in Sunday’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Watford.

Anthony Martial also found himself on the score sheet against Watford with a beautiful chip goal over goalkeeper Ben Foster. With that goal on Sunday, Martial has netted 15 goals across all competitions. However, the Frenchman continues to be inconsistent for United and cannot be deemed as a reliable goalscorer until now.

Mason Greenwood has enjoyed his breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford with 11 goals in all competitions so far. Just like Fernandes and Martial, he was also on the score sheet against Nigel Pearson’s side on Sunday. Nevertheless, Greenwood is very young and it’s a lot of pressure for the teenager to shoulder the responsibility of scoring goals regularly following Rashford’s injury.

With the Red Devils short of options up front, Solskjaer must listen to Robin van Persie’s advice and attempt to sign Edinson Cavani in the summer.

Read more

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Cavani has spent most of this season on the bench, playing just 13 league games for PSG. He may now be 33 years of age and past his prime, but the Uruguayan has netted 353 goals in 582 games in his club career and has proven himself at the top level for both club and country on a consistent basis.

Cavani has volumes of top-flight experience and he could be a top mentor for forwards such as Rashford, Martial and Greenwood.

Verdict

A proven goalscorer with international pedigree as well, Cavani would be a good fit at United. Thus, Solskjaer should try getting the Uruguay striker’s signature in the summer.