Man Utd coach "desperate" to keep Cavani until the end of the season

The 34-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Old Trafford during the Winter transfer window after having trouble holding down a consistent starting spot this season. 

Despite just making ten appearances thus far, his goalscoring cameo against Newcastle and display against Burnley demonstrated his importance to the team. 

"We've had quite a few conversations in the last couple of weeks, he's probably the player I have spoken to most," said Rangnick.

"I told him from the very first day he's a highly important player, probably the only one that can play as a striker back to goal and as I have said before, his professionalism and work ethic is amazing.

"I told him that I desperately want him to stay until the end of the season and he knows how highly I rate and respect him.

"He knows I definitely would not let him go, for me he is a highly important player for the rest of the season in a squad still playing in three competitions - we definitely need him and it is clear he has to stay."

Rangnick is hesitant to let any of his players depart this month, including

Donny van de Beek

and

Anthony Martial

, since coronavirus is still causing mayhem on an already crowded run of fixtures.

On van de Beek, Rangnick said:

"He's got a top mentality, works hard in every training session, he's a team player through and through and there will be games where he'll get his chance.

"I had a long conversation with him last week and of course it's difficult for him right now because he wants to play for the Dutch team at the World Cup, and in order to do that he needs game time.

"But I still believe we should keep him definitely until the end of the season and help him get as much game time as possible."

In the meantime, despite the Red Devils declining a loan bargain from

Sevilla

for Anthony Martial, Rangnick is emphatic that any possible trade must be appropriate for the club at all cost.

"It's a question not only of what he wants to do, but also which kind of clubs are interested in him and do they meet the demands of Manchester United, so we have to wait and see," Rangnick said

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