Edinson Cavani deserves a new Man United deal and can become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's main striker, says Owen Hargreaves... but Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand insist Harry Kane or Erling Haaland MUST arrive this summer

  • Edinson Cavani was in sizzling form as Man United made the Europa League final
  • Uruguayan scored two sublime goals as United took aggregate win over Roma
  • Owen Hargreaves heaped praise on the veteran and insists he needs a new deal
  •  Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand agree but feel United cannot miss out on others
  •  Both Harry Kane and Erling Haaland look set to be on the market this summer

Edinson Cavani's sizzling performance against Roma in the Europa League has left Manchester United legends divided as to whether the club should buy a striker this summer.

Cavani has been a revelation since arriving as a free agent following the conclusion of his Paris Saint Germain deal, and has carved out his position as United's first choice striker.

The 34-year-old added to his mounting goals tally inside the Stadio Olimpico with a neat brace, as United took an overall 8-5 aggregate victory to book their place in the Europa League final with Villarreal.

Edinson Cavani delivered again for Manchester United with two sublime goals in Rome

Edinson Cavani delivered again for Manchester United with two sublime goals in Rome

The 34-year-old showed he is the main man up front and United's most natural goalscorer

The 34-year-old showed he is the main man up front and United's most natural goalscorer

Owen Hargreaves feels United should give Cavani a new deal and spend big money elsewhere

Owen Hargreaves feels United should give Cavani a new deal and spent big money elsewhere

But Cavani's efforts left former Reds Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in disagreement over how United should handle their attacking situation going forward.


For Hargreaves, it is now imperative that United offer the former PSG man an extension to his deal which is due to end in the summer, but Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand feel United must look to the future without considering Cavani as the main man.

The hot debate had sparked after it was suggested that the upcoming summer transfer window could be likely to see some of the world's most prolific forwards become available, albeit for hefty sums. 

Speaking in the BT Studio during punditry duty after United's clash with Roma, Hargreaves outlined: 'Every ex-man United player or fan wants Harry Kane or [Erling] Haaland but the money that will cost now in the climate is just not realistic. 

Harry Kane has been giving off signs that he is finally ready to leave Tottenham
Erling Haaland is wanted by all of Europe and Borussia Dortmund could be persuaded to sell

United may have a dilemma, with Harry Kane (left) and Erling Haaland set to become available

'I think Cavani has done a wonderful job. Get him to sign a new deal and obviously there are no transfer payments there. Obviously he’s on big wages. I think they need a right winger. I think they can spend that Haaland, Kane money on potentially three other players.'

In recent weeks Kane - who turns 28 in July - has dropped huge hints that he is ready to finally leave Tottenham in order to add club trophies to his awards cabinet rather than just individual accolades.

Whereas over in Dortmund, the German giants have stood rigid in their stance that Haaland will remain at the Signal Iduna Park next season, though are aware that the Norwegian has a £65million release clause which will become active in the summer that follows.

For this reason, is it widely understood that Dortmund will attempt to hold on to their prized asset but will listen to astronomical offers which would not make financial sense to turn away. 

Ferdinand and Scholes were quickly in agreement with their former team-mate Hargreaves that Cavani has done everything asked of him at United and exceeded expectations, but outlined that United simply cannot afford to miss the opportunity to bring in an elite centre forward who could lead the line for several years. 

Ferdinand added: 'I worry about what you do if you let Kane and Haaland go somewhere else.

'You look at the teams that do well at the moment. It’s the squads with the depth. Look at Bayern Munich last season, City this season.

In agreement, Scholes outlined how the Red Devils must start planning for a future at the top level once again

Rio Ferdinand says United cannot miss the chance to secure a big name for the future
Paul Scholes admitted he does not see any of United's other current strikers becoming centre forwards

Rio Ferdinand (L) says United cannot miss the chance to secure a big name for the future while Paul Scholes (R) does not see any of United's other current strikers becoming centre forwards

He added: 'United are a club that need to sign a proper centre forward for the next five years. I’m talking a Kane or Haaland. 

'Cavani will slow down, fitness-wise, injury-wise might not be great. He’s not played loads of games this season, but he has scored goals when he has played. 

'Then you are talking about the other players... Can any of the other players step up to be a centre forward? I really can’t see it. When you talk about centre forwards, I see Kane and Haaland. 

'[Anthony] Martial, [Mason] Greenwood and [Marcus] Rashford I just don’t see them as centre forward. They are wide players.'