Darren Fletcher has added his voice to Rio Ferdinand’s in recommending Manchester United move for Edinson Cavani.
Fletcher told BBC 5 Live reported by The Mail: “‘If Cavani is available, there’s talk of him going to Chelsea… Manchester United can’t allow Cavani to go to Chelsea.”
Cavani is looking to leave Paris Saint-Germain this transfer window, BBC Sport report after seeing his chances limited by the summer arrival of Mauro Icardi.
What makes Fletcher’s comments notable is that he could so easily have been driving United’s transfer policy.
Considered as technical director
Earlier this year former United midfielder Darren Fletcher was considered by Ed Woodward for a possible appointment as technical director, Sky Sports report.
Rio Ferdinand was weighed up for the same role, The Guardian reported.
In the end, chief executive Ed Woodward decided against even creating the technical director position.
This has not proven to be a success, with United entering this transfer window without any semblance of a plan.
Ferdinand said earlier this month via Twitter that he wanted United to sign Cavani, writing: I would 100% go & get @ECavaniOfficial (Edinson Cavani). Huge experience, Goalscorer, Work Ethic & Great Pro who the younger players in the squad would learn a lot from!”
While Ferdinand and Fletcher’s lack of experience in any kind of technical director role counted against them, both appear to be speaking with the sort of forthright decisiveness Manchester United lack right now.
United are not convinced
It does not appear as though United are braced to make a move for Cavani.
A report in The Times last night claimed United acknowledge he is available at just £16.8 million, but view the overall package as too risky, bearing in mind he would want £360,000 per week and has a poor recent injury history.
So perhaps Fletcher and Ferdinand would have led United down an alley to repeating an Alexis Sanchez style mistake with regard to the 32-year-old Uruguayan.
It would be a risk, but United really need to take a gamble of some sort right now. The Telegraph report Cavani is an option United are ‘tentatively exploring’.
A plan, is better than no plan. Especially when the downside of doing nothing is United are an Anthony Martial injury away from having to rely on just Mason Greenwood, 18, for the rest of the season.
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