Yes, you read that correctly. Reports are claiming that Everton are in the race for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.
Now, we all know Everton are enjoying a period of financial strength like never before in their history, breaking the transfer record twice this summer alone as part of a mammoth £150 million outlay. We also know that, despite all the extravagance, they did not manage to replace star striker Romelu Lukaku.
Furthermore, the playground spat between PSG stars Neymar and Edinson Cavani over who would be on free-kick and penalty duty during Sunday’s 2-0 win against Lyon was played out in front of a worldwide, and largely appalled audience.
Therefore, reports in The Mail that Everton are genuinely interested in signing Paris’ deadly Uruguayan hitman are not totally implausible. The report claims that there is already a huge rift between Cavani and the world’s most expensive footballer and, with PSG under pressure to sell due to Financial Fair Play, it may just be last season’s 49-goal talisman who is sacrificed.
Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and former club Napoli are understood to be keen. Dortmund will be too if they lose Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. And although Everton may have money to burn these days thanks to the deep pockets of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, it’s fair to say they stick out like a sore thumb next to those genuine European powerhouses.
The dream deal
The Mail reports that Cavani would want to be first-choice at his next club, which may be an issue for a Chelsea, Juve and Inter side boasting Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi.
Needless to say, Cavani would sleepwalk into an Everton starting XI lacking any sort of a prolific striker. Yet, it is difficult to look beyond the view that any deal looks to be little more than a pipe dream with Everton’s most recent Champions League qualification coming 12 years ago.
Ronald Koeman’s side have frequently stated that qualifying for Europe’s premiere club competition is the aim. However, they are third from bottom in the Premier League now and it looks like they will have to wait until next year at least.
For now, then, players of Cavani’s ilk won’t be raising the roof at Goodison.
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