Edinson Cavani’s contract renewal was just what Manchester United fans were hoping for at the start of this week.
Cavani put pen to paper on a new contract extension, following an outstanding run of form which saw him net eight goals in seven games.
Star player Bruno Fernandes will also have been delighted. Just days earlier, United’s top goalscorer had spoken about his desire to see Cavani land a contract extension, along with Paul Pogba, warning the pair were near irreplaceable.
Fernandes told the club website: “They are really important for us and the qualities they have – it is difficult to find on the market for a good price.
“I think everyone knows that the team is growing with their help, and it’s important for us to keep our best players and keep improving as a team.”
With Cavani’s extension, the club are 50 per cent of the way to fulfilling Fernandes’ wish, to secure the futures of both of his teammates.
The question is, will Cavani’s extension be enough?
Pogba’s dilemma
Pogba has stayed quiet on his future plans, and while agent Mino Raiola has done plenty of talking, he’s barely worth listening to at this point.
What Pogba has to decide, is whether United can fulfil his ambitions, and whether there is another club in Europe who can tempt him away and afford him.
Cavani’s decision to stay put helps Pogba, in the short-term. But that’s all it is. Short-term.
Surely Pogba would be more convinced by United’s direction, if the club got serious and laid out big money for Harry Kane or Erling Haaland.
Cavani’s new contract expires in a year, at the same time as Pogba’s does.
Pogba could quite easily take the decision to play out the final year of his contract, and walk away on a free next summer, along with Cavani.
This would be a nightmare situation for United, and there would be nothing the club can do about it to prevent him quitting on a free, if his mind is set on it.
United must be more persuasive
Extending Cavani’s deal is better than letting him walk away, when it comes to negotiating with Pogba, but it probably won’t be enough.
It is United’s other transfer business which can build more of a case to the Frenchman to put pen to paper on his own deal.
Do United simply want to stand still, or get better? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the club website, “We have to strengthen our squad”, when asked about a title challenge next season.
So United must continue to push ahead to sign Jadon Sancho, another centre-back, a defensive midfielder, and possibly a new back-up right-back too, to get this squad to where it needs to be.
Seeing those long-term additions put in place, could have an impact on persuading Pogba to re-sign. And if he does, Bruno Fernandes will be delighted.
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