Louis van Gaal keen to add Edinson Cavani to new signings

Edinson Cavani is Louis van Gaal’s No1 choice to fill the vacancy left by Robin van Persie, who has left Manchester United for Fenerbahce.

Any prospective deal for the Paris Saint-Germain striker may involve Angel Di Maria going the other way as the French club want the Argentinian and Van Gaal is considering allowing him to go.

The departure of Van Persie leaves Wayne Rooney as the only recognised goalscorer at Old Trafford. PSG’s Cavani has been a long-term target for United’s manager who has already strengthened his squad with four new players this summer.

After the defender Matteo Darmian joined from Torino at the weekend to follow the earlier acquisition of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven, yesterday the club confirmed the signings of the central midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich and Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin.

Competitive football

The quartet were in the United squad that flew to Seattle yesterday afternoon to start the club’s summer tour of the US. The four-match trip represents United’s only competitive football before Tottenham Hotspur arrive at Old Trafford on 8 August for the start of the season.

The targeting of Cavani following the arrival of Schweinsteiger underlines how Van Gaal is seeking to add elite players in his bid to hit the ground running when the new campaign commences.

Di Maria had an uneven first season at United following his British record €84 million move last summer and Van Gaal is open to letting the winger leave as part of a deal to acquire Cavani.

The manager praised the 30-year-old Schweinsteiger, who cost €20.26 million and was given a three-year contract, as a footballer who could control matches.

“Bastian is the ultimate professional and there is no doubting his talent and his ability to control games.

“He brings a wealth of experience and is an excellent addition to our squad,” he said of a player who been capped 111 times by Germany, is the national team captain, and was a member of the victorious 2014 World Cup side.

Yet the holding midfielder has recently suffered injury and Van Gaal indicated the 25-year-old Schneiderlin will be asked to operate in a more dynamic role.

Great energy

“Morgan is a very talented player with great energy and ability,” the Dutchman said.

“His skills will complement the players that we already have and I am very pleased that we have been able to complete this deal before the tour to the United States.”

The Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has also been included on the trip but his presence will have no bearing on his long-term future at the club with Real Madrid still interested in signing him.

De Gea has refused to agree a new contract and his current deal expires next summer.

Iker Casillas’s move from Real to Porto at the weekend suggested De Gea’s prospective transfer to the Bernabeu is likely to be firmed up over the coming weeks but he was on the club’s flight to Seattle.

(Guardian Service)