He’s 33 years old
Manchester United are in negotiations with Edinson Cavani’s agents as they look to add depth to their front line in the form of an orthodox number 9.
Cavani became a free agent in the summer before the 2019/20 season had ended due to the mid-season hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and was therefore absent from Paris Saint-Germain’s run to the Champions League final in August.
He has been closely linked with moves to Benfica and Atlético Madrid but neither club signed the Uruguayan, presumably due to his high wage demands. Atlético ended up signing his compatriot Luis Suarez, leaving Cavani without a club.
United now appear to be front runners to sign him but the player’s high wage demands and the length of the contract his representatives have asked for could prove a sticking point.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano is reporting that his team are demanding a long term contract, understood to be four years, and more than €10 million per year in wages.
For a 33-year-old, however good Cavani still is, this would not be good business for Manchester United, but that’s never put them off in the past.
Manchester United are in talks with Edinson Cavani agents. He wants a long term deal + more than €10m/season as wages + huge agents fee. Cavani has been offered to #MUFC by days as also to other clubs – Benfica and Atlético deals months ago collapsed because of agents fee. 🔴
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 3, 2020
Do United need a proper number 9 to shoulder some of the goalscoring ability and enable Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rotate the team without having to play Odion Ighalo? Yes.
Is signing Cavani until he’s 37 on €200k a week the best way to fix that problem? Definitely not.
But this is Manchester United. This is Ed Woodward. Never underestimate their short-sightedness in the transfer market.
