EDINSON CAVANI will not be joining Benfica in a boost to Leeds United, according to reports.
The Uruguayan was rumoured to have held productive talks with the Portuguese giants ahead a of an imminent free transfer.
Cavani scored 200 goals in a glittering seven-year spell in ParisCredit: EPA
But according to A Bola, no such meeting with club president Luis Filipe Vieira took place – with the former Paris Saint-Germain’s star’s wages a major stumbling block.
The striker is believed to have been earning around £350,000-a-week at Parc des Princes – a sum that Benfica could get nowhere near.
Cavani is currently a free agent, with his contract in Paris having expired on June 30, despite Thomas Tuchel’s side contesting the Coupe de France final this evening, and Champions League next month.
The 33-year-old has drawn admiring glances from around Europe, but perhaps most interestingly from newly-promoted Leeds United.
Whites owner Andrea Radrizzani spoke of his desire to lure the superstar to Elland Road.
He told Sky Sports Italia: “In addition to his quality, Cavani could contribute with his physicality and adapt here, but I’ve never talked about him with the coach.
“Having said that, we’ve certainly thought about him and we’ll see, given he’s still available on a free transfer.”
If their CEO’s words are anything to go by, Leeds are set to be ambitious upon their return to the Premier League – and another name mentioned by Radrizzani, 45, was that of Cavani’s former PSG team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Leeds tried to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic in JanuaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He said: “Ibrahimovic will certainly be difficult.
“We tried to sign him in January, but he chose to join Milan and the deal vanished.
“Now I think it’s too late, the intensity of English football is different.”
Iancarlo Poveda celebrates with Leeds players after Championship celebrations
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
