Manchester United and Chelsea are ready to go head-to-head in a summer battle to sign £54million striker Edinson Cavani.
The Uruguayan’s representatives were in London as they consider a move away from Paris Saint-Germain, where Cavani has become unsettled.
The 26-year-old has been a success in France but is uncomfortable playing in a wide role to accommodate Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the central striker.
United manager David Moyes has Cavani on his shortlist but knows he will face competition from Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
Both clubs want to bolster their strikeforce in the summer with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa and Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic also figuring prominently in their thinking.
United sounded out PSG last month but were told they would not sell Cavani in January.
Now Cavani’s camp are ready to hold preliminary discussions with would-be suitors about what financial figures would be involved.
Cavani is currently out for three weeks with a thigh injury but remains an important signing for the wealthy French club and they would not sell for less than the £54m they paid to Napoli last summer.
They also know that Cavani could star for Uruguay at the World Cup, making his price rise even further.
Moyes has warned United players to expect greater competition while Chelsea will sell Demba Ba and possibly Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres too.
PSG owner Nasser El-Khelaifi has threatened to retaliate with counter offers for Premier League players should clubs pursue his players, so bids for Cavani could make for an interesting summer.
Daily Mail