Varun Pai
Transfer News: Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani ready to accept reduced salary to join Barcelona in January
According to transfer news on AS (h/t The Express), Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani is ready to reduce his salary to join Barcelona in January.
The Uruguayan star sealed a move to Old Trafford last summer from PSG. He was integral in the road to the UEFA Europa League final and helped the club secure a 2nd-place finish in the league. However, he has suffered for minutes this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo acting as the primary option in the centre-forward role.
For a brief period, it did look as though the pair could co-exist after they complemented each other brilliantly in the 3-0 victory against Tottenham at the end of October. However, the 34-year-old has been out with a tendon injury since then and now looks keen on leaving in January.
Barcelona are apparently ready to test the resolve of Man United by offering a small fee, especially since Cavani will be out of contract next summer. They are plotting a six-month loan move for the striker but are only willing to offer a reduced wage to the player. However, this is no issue as the centre-forward is ready to take a pay-cut to sign for the Blaugrana club.
Non-Negotiable
The Uruguayan international may not have racked up a lot of minutes this season, but his experience remains a vital factor for retaining his services. His work off the ball and killer instinct in front of goal is a big asset for us to possess.
Moreover, if luck favours us, we shall be competing in three competitions by February, including the FA Cup. Our squad is also good enough to compete in Europe, and Cavani offers a prospect to approach a game differently via our attack.
Letting him leave mid-season could derail our campaign if one of our attacking stars gets injured. Finishing in the Top 4 is a must this season and to do so, we will need quality depth in the ranks.
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Cavani might be 34, but he is not slowing down anytime soon and still has the knack for scoring goals. He could agree on a pre-contract with Barcelona in January and seal a move in the summer. However, there is no solid indication of that happening yet. But for now, he remains an integral part as Rangnick looks to stabilise the Red Devils.
It would be acceptable to see the back of the ex-Napoli and Palermo man in the summer as we would know that we were able to extract useful performances from him during his stint at Old Trafford. And given that he was a free transfer for us, it’s not like we would be making a huge loss letting him on a free next summer.
