Why signing Edinson Cavani would make Manchester United world-class

In an interview with Bwin (h/t The Metro), former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has urged the Red Devils to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani during the January transfer window to help current forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Edinson Cavani’s contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season and he has scored 195 goals in his spell in the capital of France, where he is now in his seventh season. The Uruguay international has been with the Paris-based club since 2013 when he joined them from Napoli.

Edinson Cavani applauds the PSG fans. (Getty Images)

The 32-year-old started this campaign with two goals in two Ligue 1 starts, but the prolific form of Kylian Mbappe and loan signing Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan has kept him mostly in the dugout since his injury.

With Cavani currently out of favour under Thomas Tuchel, Manchester United must try signing the Uruguayan in the winter transfer window.

After a couple of difficult years, Marcus Rashford is slowly coming into his own as a Manchester United goalscorer. The academy product is still just 22 years old and scored against Spurs and Manchester City recently, he has now scored 13 goals in his last 14 appearances for club and country.

But having let go of forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez this past summer, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to bring in adequate replacements. That has somewhat affected the Red Devils’ productivity this season, with Solskjaer’s boys managing just 25 goals in 16 league games.

Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford celebrate against Chelsea. (Getty Images)

Anthony Martial is Solskjaer’s preferred option through the middle but the Frenchman has struggled with injury problems throughout the campaign so far.

Another niggle for Martial ruled him out of the match against Tottenham, meaning 18-year-old Mason Greenwood was handed his first Premier League start. Although Greenwood was decent against Spurs, Solskjaer must sign an experienced striker to bolster his forward department.

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Edinson Cavani has been prolific over the years (Getty Images)

In that regard, Edinson Cavani would be a great fit at Old Trafford. Cavani has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world over the past decade, scoring a staggering 195 goals in 287 appearances for PSG and 50 for his country.

The Uruguayan’s goalscoring prowess is undoubted and he would also make the Red Devils a force to reckon with if he is lured to Old Trafford.

Verdict

A return to the Champions League remains the main goal for United this season, and that might require further strengthening in January. Given Cavani’s current situation at PSG, United must take advantage of it and sign him to bolster their top-four hopes.