Having secured the signature of long-term target Jadon Sancho, Manchester United are thought to have turned their attentions to the backline.
Fabrizio Romano tweeted an update on the club’s pursuit of Raphael Varane, confirming that a bid has yet to be issued for Real Madrid to consider.
Manchester United are in contact with Real Madrid for Varane. No official bid yet – won’t be a “quick” deal. ? #MUFC
Personal terms won’t be an issue – Real still hope to convince Varane to stay, but he wants to try something new. He’s on top of #MUFC list as CB since months.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2021
Though the La Liga giants “still hope” that the Frenchman could extend his terms in the Spanish capital, it seems increasingly likely that the centre-half will part ways in the current window.
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With the France international’s contract set to expire next summer, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be unlikely to refuse to sanction the exit of the World Cup-winner for fear of losing him on a free next year.
As such, it seems possible that United could benefit from a reasonable deal for the centre-half who, as Romano has claimed, seems to be open for a new challenge.
Currently valued at £63m (according to Transfermarkt), there have been suggestions that the defender could be lured out of Spain with a €50m (£42m) bid.
With the player heading into his peak years and set to go for nothing the year after, it would seem to be a reasonable offering for the target in question, though it remains unclear whether Madrid would be prepared to accept such an offer.