Man United signing this 50-goal Uruguayan in January would have boosted their attack

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Rohan Sengupta

Why Man United made a mistake by not signing Edinson Cavani in January

According to L’Equipe (h/t The Mirror), Manchester United were interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani during the January transfer window. However, a deal didn’t materialize and he stayed put at the Ligue 1 club.

Edinson Cavani, 32, has made only six starts for PSG this season. He has scored five goals this season but has fallen down the pecking order with Mauro Icardi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe leading the line for the Ligue 1 giants.

The report (h/t The Mirror) adds that Chelsea and Atletico Madrid were also interested in the Uruguayan, who will now see out the remainder of the campaign with PSG and leave the club on a free transfer in the summer.

PSG striker Edinson Cavani in action. (Getty Images)
PSG striker Edinson Cavani in action. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Manchester United finally got their hands on Bruno Fernandes during the January transfer window. Just as it looked like United would end the transfer window with only Fernandes, they clinched a loan swoop for Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo on deadline day.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side desperately needed reinforcements in the forward department due to an injury to Marcus Rashford. Rashford hasn’t played since the FA Cup replay against Wolves, where he came on as a substitute and got injured.

Solskjaer was left with just Anthony Martial and teenager Mason Greenwood as No. 9 options. The England international has mainly played from the wing this season but he is the club’s top scorer with 14 in the Premier League.

Before moving to the Chinese Super League in 2017, he played in England for Watford, including two seasons in the top-tier. He helped the Hornets gain promotion to the Premier League with 20 goals in 35 games in the Championship.

The following season, his goals and partnership with Troy Deeney helped keep the team up as he bagged 15 goals in 37 appearances.

Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates on the touchline. (Getty Images)
Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates on the touchline. (Getty Images)

While Ighalo certainly proved himself in England during his spell with Watford, United should have aimed higher in their pursuit for a striker and landed Edinson Cavani instead.

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Cavani is now in his seventh season with PSG, scoring almost 200 goals and winning plenty of trophies in the process. The 32-year-old has volumes of experience in Europe and has also proven himself for the Uruguay national team, where he has 50 goals in 116 appearances. A prolific striker, he would have added quality and depth to Solskjaer’s squad, whilst easing the pressure of Martial and Greenwood.

Verdict

Regardless of the fact that Cavani has no previous experience in English football, United should’ve purely looked at his goal-scoring record in Europe and signed him in January.