Barcelona have stepped up their efforts to seal a January deal for Manchester United 's Edinson Cavani as they make him a mega-money contract offer.
The Uruguayan has only featured eight times for the Red Devils this season, netting once, as a series of injuries have hampered his campaign thus far.
It now looks as though the Old Trafford favourite may not get too many other opportunities to make his mark in United red as Barcelona push to secure his services in the New Year.
The 34-year-old has just over six months left on his current United deal, but it looks as though his Manchester stay could be cut short as the cash-strapped Catalan club table a staggering offer.
According to Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, Barcelona have made Cavani a 18-month contract proposal that would tie him down at the Nou Camp until June 2023.
The Blaugrana are reportedly offering the United hitman €3.5million (£3m) with performance-related bonuses of around €1m for the first six months of his deal, before improving those terms.
It is believed Cavani's wages would then be upped to €4m (£3.4m) for the second season with add-ons potentially seeing him rake in a further €1.5m (£1.2m).
The player may not need much persuading either with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Cavani is keen to help revitalise the Spanish club which have endured a disastrous few months.
Barcelona are currently languishing down in eighth place in La Liga, a whopping 18 points adrift of fierce rivals and current table-toppers Real Madrid.
A recent failure to make it out of the Champions League group for the first time in 20 years was then further compounded by the news that Sergio Aguero has been forced into retirement following heart complications.
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With Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann having departed in the summer amid the club's financial crisis, and Aguero no longer an option, Barcelona very much view Cavani as the answer to their striking problems.
However, despite his heavy links away from Old Trafford, the Uruguayan remained coy when discussing his future recently.
Cavani told United's club website: "I think one of the most important things, maybe one of the really key things here, is to always approach games and prepare for them on a strictly match-by-match basis.
"Don’t make a lot of plans in your head about anything in the long-term. ‘So, in December or whatever the date, we’ll be there or thereabouts.’
“No, I think you have to prepare for each game like it was a final. And then, gradually, keep an eye on how things are going and what’s happening generally.”
The striker also expressed his gratitude to the club and their fans for his time in Manchester, stating: "I've been fortunate enough to have had a season here already.
"I’ve got huge recognition for just how great and kind the fans have been with me, and I’m grateful, and always will be, for the songs they’ve made up for me."
He added: "Because I think that, a lot of the time, things happen for a reason.”
