Real Madrid 'plotting shock move for Cavani as a stop-gap before signing Mbappe'

Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a shock January move to bring Edinson Cavani to the Bernabeu from Manchester United.

Carlo Ancelotti is on the search for firepower and Cavani fits the bill for the Spanish giants given his availability after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Cavani signed an extension with Manchester United after a promising first season in English football, but was immediately dealt a set-back after the club completed an emotional re-signing of fans' favourite Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now, according to reports in El Nacional, Madrid president Florentino Perez will sanction a move for Cavani in January.

The report states that Madrid boss Ancelotti had a list of players he wanted in the summer, which included both Cavani and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Ultimately the Spaniards were only able to bring in the highly promising French youngster Eduardo Camawinga from Rennes.

With Kylian Mbappe the top priority signing on a free deal next summer, once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires, Cavani is seen as a perfect makeweight acquisition on a short term loan deal from the Premier League.

Since Ronaldo's return to England he has immediately occupied Cavani's central role in attack and scored five goals in five games since.

Real Madrid do have several strikers in their squad currently, including Luka Jovic and Mariano alongside talisman Karim Benzema.

The France international is viewed as the only consistent out-and-out goal getter in the Madrid ranks however, forcing Ancelotti to look at a loan move for Cavani in order to keep Madrid on a winning foot.