Jose Mourinho has already delivered verdict on Chelsea’s potential new partnership

Transfers: Chelsea target Griezman, Grealish 'warned off' City

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Chelsea are reportedly keen on hijacking Manchester United’s move for Raphael Varane this summer and that could lead them into using a new defensive pairing next season. The Real Madrid defender is considering quitting the Bernabeu as he has just one year left on his contract.

Varane is apparently demanding an increase on his £170,000-a-week wages but Real are in financial trouble and want to cut costs.

Sergio Ramos has already departed for Paris Saint-Germain and Varane could be the next out of the exit door.

United are holding talks with the La Liga giants over a blockbuster summer switch but reports in Spain suggest Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on the situation.

Thiago Silva, 36, is unlikely to feature in every Premier League match as he comes towards the tail end of his career.

So Thomas Tuchel may trust a younger Kurt Zouma to play alongside his fellow Frenchman Varane.

Six years ago Mourinho predicted that Zouma and Varane would be a powerful partnership after he managed both of the youngster at club level.

“I think the French Federation should write me a letter to thank me because I think they have now the best two young central defenders in the world,” Mourinho said during his second stint in charge of Chelsea in 2015.

“I’m not saying the best because there are young, there are obviously end products, mature players 24, 25, 28, 30-year’s-old.

“But as young defenders can you imagine what Varane and Zouma can represent in football in a couple of years.

“I think Didier [Deschamps] must be very happy with that.”

Meanwhile, former Liverpool ace Steve Nicol has concerns over whether Varane can still cut it in the Premier League.

“I think the worrying thing is that Varane’s coming off a season where he made a lot of high-profile mistakes,” he said.

“You wonder whether: is last season an indicator he’s beginning to drop a little bit? That would be my worry.

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“It’s going to be a lot of money. It might be spending a lot of money who, actually for his age is pretty early going the other way.”

Chelsea also have Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen among their ranks so it is likely there would be departures if Varane arrived at Stamford Bridge.

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