Chelsea transfer news: Barcelona urged to join race for Edinson Cavani

Barcelona have been urged to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani by Brazilian legend Rivaldo.

The Blaugrana are without a recognised striker right now with Luis Suarez sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

In the first La Liga game following Suarez’s injury, Barcelona played Lionel Messi through the middle before pairing Antoine Griezmann and Carles Perez for a Copa del Rey tie with UD Ibiza.

Should Barcelona sign Edinson Cavani? Five things to know…

• Suarez has been ruled out for four months following knee surgery.
• In his absence, Messi and Griezmann have been used as central forwards.
• Barcelona have recently been linked with a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
• But Rivaldo believes the La Liga leaders should join the race for Cavani.
• Barca are 8/11 favourites to win La Liga this season with William Hill*, followed by Real Madrid (Evens) and Atletico Madrid (25/1).

*Odds provided by William Hill, Squawka’s partner for the 2020 January transfer window. You have to be 18+ to gamble. For more information, go to GambleAware.org

But Barcelona have been linked with signing a new striker to fill the gap left by Suarez, allowing Messi to play in his wing-role that gives the Argentinian so much more freedom to work his magic on the pitch.

One big-name striker who appears to be available is PSG’s Edinson Cavani, with the Uruguayan reportedly looking for a move away after falling slightly out of favour at the Ligue 1 club.

Cavani has been dealing with injury problems across the season which have seen Mauro Icardi replace the Uruguayan as PSG’s starting striker.

The 32-year-old is being heavily tipped to move to La Liga with Atletico Madrid expected to be his destination, despite links with Premier League club Chelsea. These links were only increased by Cavani’s father revealing his desire for the striker to join Atletico, though he did also admit there were problems with a deal.

“He wants to leave PSG,” Luis Cavani said. “I would like him to sign for Atletico Madrid.

“[Diego] Simeone wants him now. The head coach of Paris Saint-Germain [Thomas Tuchel] has also said he needs him to help compete in the Champions League. So PSG do not want him to go to Atletico Madrid, even if he finds an agreement.”

But Rivaldo, who spent five years with Barcelona between 1997 and 2002, scoring 133 goals, believes his former club should join the race.

“Cavani would be a magnificent improvement for Barcelona’s attack now that Suarez is out for quite some time,” he told Betfair.

“After all, Cavani is a top forward who has always got his goals in Europe’s top leagues. In his case it seems he’s really close to leaving PSG and it would be a very good opportunity.”

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Quique Setien: Barcelona looking for a new striker

Despite leading La Liga, Barcelona are going through a strange period, looking to improve their squad ahead of the second half of the campaign under a new manager. The Blaugrana are also searching for glory in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, only just scraping past UD Ibiza in the latter.

And Quique Setien, who replaced Ernesto Valverde, has admitted a new striker is one of their desires.

“It’s true we’re speaking about it. But we still have to move things on a little bit,” Setien said recently.

“Everything else has to be studied exhaustively, then we will see what the most convenient [option] is.

“It’s an issue I still can’t answer and I am not going to do so. I have spoken about something with the club, but nothing in concrete.

“They’re internal issues and it’s preferable for me if you don’t ask me, because I am not going to say anything, so let’s not waste time.”