Mixed in amid a hectic day of transfer speculation, came reports from Di Marzio that Manchester United are targeting a striker.
Two very high profile names were suggested: Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic and free agent Edinson Cavani.
The downsides
This looks like a short term fix from United’s perspective. Although it is good that the striker position is being addressed.
Anthony Martial has one goal in all competitions in his last seven games, while Odion Ighalo last netted back in June.
But we would far rather see a long term solution. While Jovic ticks some boxes, Real Madrid are unlikely to want to let him leave with an option to buy, or permanently without a buy-back clause.
Nonetheless, lets be positive, and look at what both players could bring to the club…
The case for Cavani
Cavani is vastly experienced and will guarantee goals for Manchester United.
While he only scored seven times for PSG in 2019/20, the three seasons prior he netted 23, 40, and 49 respectively.
For PSG in total he scored 200 goals in 301 games, a fantastic record. To get him in on a deal for one or two seasons would be a smart move.
Anthony Martial could benefit from competition from Cavani, and the chance to learn from a player who has been one of the world’s strikers best over the past decade.
Cavani is more than an outright centre-forward too, even though that is his preferred role.
At PSG he spent time playing out wide to accommodate Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a central striker.
Zlatan himself made a good impact at United in his short stint, helping the club to win two trophies during his only full season at the club.
The case for Jovic
While acknowledging the difficulty in getting Real Madrid to agree a sale of Jovic, a deal for the forward would bring it’s own set of positives.
Jovic was a strike who had a prolific spell in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
He scored 27 goals for the club in 2018/19 to earn a move to Real Madrid.
For whatever reason, it just hasn’t clicked for him in Spain and he needs to move on.
Jovic is still only 22-years-old and should have a long, successful career ahead of him.
The Serbian is strong in the air and offers a different style to Anthony Martial, while possessing ability to score with either foot.
Whoscored.com list one of his strengths as his ability to play on the counter attack, which fits United’s style of play under Solskjaer.
If he just signs on loan, he would be a short-term move, but Jovic has talent and is worth taking a look at, if there is a chance of prising him away from Madrid permanently.
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