Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani. (Photo : Getty Images)
La Liga giants Atletico Madrid is keen on challenging English Premier League side Manchester United for the services of Paris-Saint Germain striker Edinson Cavani in the summer.
Atleti manager Diego Simeone is said to be planning an "ambitious" summer transfer deal to acquire the 29-year-old Salto, Uruguay native from the current Ligue 1 champions "regardless of whether the Rojiblancos win the Champions League final on May 28", according to Caught Offside.
Los Colchoneros is set to meet cross-city rivals Real Madrid next week in a 2014 rematch of the European Cup final this time at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro and both clubs are expected to monitor their rosters and find ways to improve them in the coming transfer window.
This is especially true with the 46-year-old Simeone, who had enhanced Atleti's continental status by being in the final of the Champions League twice in the last three years. The Argentine bench tactician is said to be keen on boosting his side's front lineup and Cavani is one of his top targets moving forward.
Cavani had been with Les Parisiens for three seasons now, which all ended up in championships. He had been a consistent scoring threat for manager Laurent Blanc through the years, scoring 80 goals in 144 appearances for the French club in the said time span.
The Vicente Calderón residents must outbid the Red Devils, though, if they want to land the Uruguay international.
However, speculations abound that United is really interested in Cavani's PSG teammate, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and so if the Old Trafford squad will go for the Sweden national team skipper then it would leave Cavani open for Atleti to transfer.
Atletico's vice-captain, Diego Godin, who is Cavani's teammate with the Uruguay national team, recently claimed that the 6-foot forward "would be happy to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Atletico Madrid", Football Espana reported.
"I've called Cavani several times to come to Atleti. He loves Atletico and the way of playing, because it's a lot like the Uruguay team. He'd be delighted to come," said Godin.
Godin also noted that Atletico's vast improvement from recent years is evident as the club is now able to attract top-notch players like Cavani and is also capable of keeping their best players while doing so.
