OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Edinson Cavani completes Manchester United switch

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer. The 33-year-old is believed to have signed a one-year deal at Old Trafford, with an option for a year’s extension if all goes well. He had been out of contract since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June.

Cavani’s last-gasp signing could well be read as a damning indictment of United’s transfer policy — or rather lack thereof — but he’s a big name, and will certainly distract from the weekend’s calamitous defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. There’s also the chance that Cavani will genuinely improve the side: his goalscoring record has been impressive everywhere he’s played, and despite his advancing years, there’s nothing to suggest he won’t be able to play a lot of games over the coming season. Let’s hope he proves more Zlatan than Falcao.

It will be particularly interesting to see how he dovetails with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Cavani is an imposing presence up top, but relies more on his intelligent movement than physique in scoring goals. He’s previously been deployed as a second striker, or even out wide, and gives Ole Gunnar Solskjær a considerable variety of attacking options. We expect he’ll play straight through the middle, but he’s certainly no lumbering target man.