There's nothing like a boost to beat the winter blues and according to the Daily Star Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have just received such a fillip in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain star Edinson Cavani.
It's been no secret that the Uruguay striker has grown increasingly unhappy in Paris playing second fiddle to Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and now comes news that the French champions have offered a new contract to Javier Pastore. The Star claims the deal "may spell the end for Cavani" and increase the scramble to sign the former Napoli frontman as early as next month.
Liverpool are known to be seeking a reliable goal scorer to reignite their season while United are becoming increasingly concerned that Radamel Falcao may not last the course because of his long-standing knee and calf problems. Arsenal are always on the lookout for sharpshooters and they might not have to wait long because according to the Star, Cavani yesterday "reportedly asked PSG to lower their asking price for him".
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Meanwhile the Gunners have lost out on 19-year-old sensation Munir after Barcelona offered the frontman what Talksport describes as "a mega new contract". Munir has had a brilliant few months, breaking into the Barcelona first team and has also winning his first senior cap for Spain. Talksport say that Arsene Wenger has been tracking Munir for years but Barca boss Luis Enrique became aware of the Arsenal's manager interest and so "persuaded the player and the Barca board" to increase the teenager's buy-out clause from £10m to a whopping £27.5million should any club wish to buy him before his contract expires in 2017.
Elsewhere and the Daily Express says that Arsenal have joined Liverpool in the race to land £18m-rated Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The German club pipped the Gunners to first place in Group D of the Champions League on Tuesday night, but it seems Arsenal intend to exact their revenge by making a January move for the Armenian international.
Mkhitaryan arrived in Dortmund from Ukraine outfit Shakthtar Donetsk in 2013, but the 25-year-old has not found the going easy in Germany, and the Express believes Mkhitaryan will "be on his way in the near future". Arsenal had been in pole position – and ready to meet the asking price - but the paper says Liverpool are circling and may pounce the moment next month's transfer window swings open.
Finally the International Business Times says that Barcelona defender Martin Montoya has reiterated his desire to leave the Camp Nou in January "with Liverpool among the clubs vying for his signature". The 23-year-old has found game time hard to come by this season under Luis Enrique and has apparently decided his future lies elsewhere.
Liverpool are considered among the frontrunners to sign Montoya, with Brendan Rodgers bringing him to Anfield to replace Glen Johnson, who's been linked with a move to Italy when his contract expires in June. Speaking to Italy's Tutto Mercato, Montoya's agent Juan de Dios Carrasco said on Wednesday: "Tomorrow there will be a summit with Barcelona to communicate a decision we have already made. We will leave the club in January, there are clubs interested in England, Italy and Germany."
