Edinson Cavani linked with Manchester United and why he will be a good fit

Edinson Cavani of PSG

Following an incredible number of setbacks this campaign, a top four finish is the maximum position Manchester United can expect to achieve come the end of the season and we should expect big changes in the summer.

According to Goal, David Moyes has been handed a £150 million transfer budget in order to make his own mark on the current squad and, considering he spent just a fraction of this with the January arrival of Spaniard Juan Mata, he still has plenty of money to spend – with a large chunk of it earmarked for a sizeable Uruguayan hitman.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is reportedly eyeing a move to the Premier League, placing the Red Devils on red alert for a potential summer swoop. The 26-year-old only joined the Ligue 1 outfit last summer from Napoli, for £55m, and while he is happy in Paris and with the club, he apparently is not impressed with the quality in depth of French football. Moyes and the Old Trafford board are convinced that Cavani would be the perfect addition to a squad boosted by the capture of Mata.

The Uruguayan is simply one of the most potent players in his position and his goal record speaks for itself. During the 2012-13 season he netted an impressive 38 times in 43 games and he was a key factor in Napoli claiming second spot in the Serie A table.

He has been a huge success since moving to Ligue 1 at the end of last season and has so far netted 13 in 21 outings for PSG this term. He is currently the French top flight’s second highest scorer, behind club team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cavani would add a huge threat to United’s current squad – a factor they have dearly missed throughout the entirety of the season.

Obviously Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are both clinical in front of goal and with nine strikes each this campaign it is fair to say they have still been scoring. However, with the latter’s recent injury troubles there can be no guaranteeing that he will be available on a regular basis, plus the former is often deployed in a slightly deeper midfield role. Concessions would be made for the arrival of a striker of Cavani’s calibre and there can be no denying that he would be a huge asset to any top European side, even just for his ability in front of goal.

Besides his capacity to score, his link-up play is also excellent. His arrival would perhaps see United take on a more fluid philosophy, attacking down the centre, rather than opting for the wings. The club’s predictable, one-dimensional tactics have faltered this season and new talent down the middle will surely offer the adaptability that Moyes desperately needs.

Cavani would link up superbly with the likes of Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick and his passing accuracy of 86% proves he has the quality to do so. He also has the vision to create a number of goal scoring opportunities for his team mates. This season he has fashioned 15 key passes – more than Van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck.

He offers a huge physical presence, at 6ft tall, which would give him a noticeable advantage when making the transition to English football. His skill at holding up the ball makes him a useful outlet, whilst his blistering pace and outstanding work rate also ensures he is lethal on the counterattack.

His European form is also worth noting, as he seems to thrive on the biggest stage of club football. His best performances in recent years have come in the Champions League and he has been pivotal in PSG’s progression this campaign.

This season he has scored four goals in five matches, with a shot accuracy of 90% – a highly impressive statistic. From a total of ten attempts, the Uruguayan converted 40% of his chances. United need a player who can consistently win them matches in Europe and signing Cavani would certainly do them no harm.

The Red Devils are reportedly preparing for a huge summer of transfer activity, and even though strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie look set to stay, the opportunity to add Cavani is too difficult a proposition to reject. The French outfit have unlimited financial resources and will be under no pressure to offload a star asset to a major European rival. But that will not deter Moyes from trying to lure a player reportedly keen to play in the Premier League.