International sports
Edinson Cavani: Manchester United set to sign former PSG striker
Former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is due to fly into England on Sunday to join Manchester United.
The Uruguay international, 33, has been in talks with United and although there is no deal yet, it is growing increasingly likely Cavani will join on what could be a two-year contract.
Cavani is out of contract having left Paris St-Germain at the end of June.
He left PSG under a cloud following a disagreement with Neymar and feels he has more to give to European football.
United have been given a positive impression about the player’s desire to play for the club and providing face-to-face talks confirm that impression, a deal will be done.
It is understood the package on the table does not go beyond the current pay structure, so United feel any comparisons with Alexis Sanchez, who was given a £350,000-a-week contract which he failed to come close to justifying, would be wide of the mark.
They also feel Cavani’s age is not an issue and his experience will help develop the younger players in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.
It is understood talks over signing Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho have not progressed, although club sources refuse to say whether United’s attempt to land the 20-year-old England international is over.
United are braced for some criticism but feel Cavani’s record justifies their move for him.
He has scored a total of 341 goals in 556 club games. Included in that are a club record of 200 goals in 301 appearances for PSG. He has also scored 50 goals in 116 internationals for Uruguay.
In addition, senior United officials have not forgotten the impact Zlatan Ibrahimovic had on the club when he joined them as a 34-year-old in 2016.
Cavani’s availability was one reason why club sources said privately they were calm about their situation on Friday, when many supporters took to social media to express their disappointment at how the transfer window was unfolding.
If the deal does go through, one of Cavani’s first games could be against PSG, who are United’s opponents in their first Champions League group game at the Parc de Princes on 20 October.
