Manchester United Identify Edinson Cavani As Robin Van Persie Replacement
Manchester United Identify Edinson Cavani As Robin Van Persie Replacement
Edinson Cavani is Louis van Gaal's No.1 choice to fill the vacancy left by Robin van Persie who will complete his move from Manchester United to Fenerbahce on Monday. Any prospective deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Cavani may involve Angel Di Maria going the other way as the French club want the Argentinian and Van Gaal is considering allowing him to go. (Manchester United Complete Darmian Deal)
The departure of Van Persie, who should be unveiled at Fenerbahce's stadium on Monday, leaves Wayne Rooney as the only recognised goalscorer at Old Trafford. PSG's Cavani has been a long-term target for United's manager who is strengthening his squad in all the areas he wishes in the current transfer window. (Schweinsteiger to Join Manchester United)
In central midfield Bastian Schweinsteiger has been signed from Bayern Munich and he is expected to be followed by Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin on Monday . Each should be part of the United squad that fly to Seattle in the afternoon to start the summer tour of the US. (Schweinsteiger Set To End His 17-Year Bayern Affair)
The Italy right-back Matteo Darmian has already been signed and, along with Memphis Depay, Van Gaal's first close-season acquisition, both will be on the plane for the four-match trip that represents United's sole competitive football before Tottenham Hotspur arrive at Old Trafford on 8 August for the start of the season.
At 28 and a prolific striker, Cavani underlines how Van Gaal is seeking to add elite players in his bid to hit the ground running when the new campaign commences. Di Maria had an uneven first season at United following his British record £59.7m arrival last summer. Van Gaal is open to letting the winger leave if he can be a makeweight in acquiring Cavani.
The goalkeeper David De Gea could still miss the trip to the US after Iker Casillas left Real Madrid for Porto at the weekend.
If a deal for Dea were to involve Sergio Ramos - the defender would be another elite player landed by Van Gaal - coming the other way from Real, the goalkeeper may not take the flight to Seattle.
If Cavani and Ramos could be added then Van Gaal would have only the goalkeeper position to address this summer. Victor Valdes, who is already at United, is one option.