Edinson Cavani to cost €80m for Atlético Madrid — report

Edinson Cavani has a little over seven days to extricate himself from Paris before the winter transfer window SLAMS shut.

While the success of that operation remains in a bit of doubt thanks to PSG’s financial might — they can eat the cost of the contract and whatever offers they have received so far without batting an eyelid to keep Cavani until the end of the season and his contract — if Cavani is able to get out, he’s likely heading down south to Spain rather than up north to England.

Chelsea were briefly linked, as has been custom since 2012, but it looks highly unlikely that anything new would happen that hasn’t happened all those previous times — i.e. no Cavani for us.

Cavani’s family certainly seem to be pushing for the Atlético Madrid option, as are apparently Atlético themselves. They were the ones to get the ball rolling on this Cavani situation in the first place, and Diego Simeone reportedly continues to push very much for it. While Álvaro Morata has done okay this season — 10 goals in 24 appearances to lead the team — he’s pretty much their only (barely consistent) source of goals. João Felix has cooled off after a hot start. Ángel Correa and Vitolo are not reliable goalscorers, and Diego Costa is basically finished after surgery for a herniated disc in his neck, probably for the season if not more.

Cavani makes a ton of sense for Atléti, and his all-action style should be a perfect fit for El Cholo, who will be celebrating a decade in charge at the end of this season.

And of course Cavani will not be cheap, even just a couple weeks shy of his 33rd birthday.

According to the latest figures, Atlético Madrid’s full commitment will be in the region of €80m over the next 2.5 years. That’s including the transfer fee and wages — assuming a €20m transfer fee, that’s €60m over 130 weeks, or around €450k per week (less taxes), which more of less matches his current reported weekly wages (“in excess of £360k”).

Chelsea could certainly afford him as well — as unwise as that might be in the long-term — but considering that we thought it reasonable to submit a loan bid with a £5m fee, it’s safe to say, we’re not ready to break the bank, unlike Atlético.

Good luck to them, and the Angel of Verdun Salto.