FOOTBALL: Louis van Gaal to AXE Angel Di Maria in STRAIGHT SWAP with PSG star Edinson Cavani

Argentine winger Di Maria, who cost a British record £59.7million, is attracting interest from Europe’s elite after flopping at Old Trafford last term. Champions League winners Barcelona have been linked with the ex-Real Madrid star, while French champions PSG and German giants Bayern Munich re long-term admirers. But the United board do not want to sell Di Maria, 27, to either Barcelona or Bayern amid fears he will prove an instant hit for their rivals. Although he could be equally successful at PSG that would not be such a problem – as long as Louis van Gaal’s men land £50m-rated Cavani in return. Dutch coach van Gaal drew up a lengthy list of top striker targets at the start of the summer but so far none has materialised. Tottenham’s Harry Kane is not for sale, Atletico Madrid man Mario Mandzukic has joined Juventus and Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke is too pricey at £32.5m. That leaves Cavani, 28, as the best world-class option available for United - especially if it means they off-load expensive misfit Di Maria without losing face. And Cavani would love a move to the Premier League, having become fed up at always playing second fiddle to PSG main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The prolific Uruguay skipper regularly ends up on the wings for Laurent Blanc’s side, with Swedish star Ibrahimovic the preferred striker. Cavani’s career stats suggest he would bring exactly the sort of firepower van Gaal wants at Old Trafford. With Napoli, he rattled 78 goals in 104 Serie A games. For PSG, he has an impressive 34 in 65 league outings.