Manchester United have opened talks with former Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani.
But although the club were last night said to be “knee-deep” in negotiations to sign the 33-year-old free agent before Monday's deadline, United bosses are fearful of getting dragged into another Alexis Sanchez-style financial meltdown.
Uruguyan star Cavani is available on a free after leaving PSG at the end of the season but is thought to be demanding a two-year deal on over £200,000-a-week.
That's already proved too rich for Atletico Madrid and Benfica – and it's left United nervous of making the same mistake they made with former Arsenal star Sanchez.
United signed the Chilean attacker in January 2018 – but it turned into a costly disaster.
Sanchez was on a reported £450,000 a week but played only 31 games before United took a massive financial hit to get him out of the club in a deal with Inter Milan.
And after finally giving up on hope of signing £108million England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund United have turned to Cavani to add firepower.
Cavani scored five goals in twenty games for the French side in the last campaign and Ole Gunnar Soslkjaer admires his experience, professionalism and ability to fast-track young stars like Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
But whether Cavani signs or not Nigerian striker Odio Ighalo, who is on loan at Old Trafford from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, is set to leave the club in January when his loan move from the Chinese Super League ends.
It remains to be seen whether United can get a deal done for Cavani over the coming days, but if they do he would become just the second new face through the door this summer, with Donny van de Beek their only other signing.
