Man Utd ‘very close’ to Raphael Varane deal as Real Madrid ‘drop asking price’
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Manchester United appear to be edging ever closer to Raphael Varane's signature after the La Liga giants reportedly lowered their asking price for the highly rated centre-back.
United have already reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund over long-term target Jadon Sancho and have now set their sights on Varane.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has long been in the market for a central defender to partner club captain Harry Maguire.
The United skipper's ankle ligament injury towards the tail-end of last season thrust Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly into the limelight, but the performances of both left a lot to be desired.
As a result, the Red Devils have been on the prowl trying to find a defender of the calibre that could slot into the side immediately and take to life at Old Trafford with ease.
Though there are no guarantees that any signing will flourish in the Premier League, few defenders boast the kind of elite experience that Varane posseses.
The 28-year-old has been a staple of the Real Madrid back-line for the best part of a decade, establishing himself as one of the finest defenders on the continent as well as winning every major honour on offer.
The Frenchman is rapidly approaching the final 12 months of his contract with Los Blancos, with both the player and the club remaining coy on whether an extension has been offered.
Man Utd 'submit' Raphael Varane bid and prepare Eduardo Camavinga offer in £75m raid
Reports from Spain suggest the centre-back is keen on the idea of a new challenge and to test himself in a new league, with Man Utd proving the most attractive option as a deal is 'very close'.
Real Madrid are also in a particularly dire financial state, not helped by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and are thought to view Varane as one of the stars that could be shifted to help raise funds of their own.
United once reportedly had a bid of around £100m turned down for Varane in 2018 in the aftermath of a string of stunning displays for his country as France won their second World Cup.
Fast forward three years and it appears that half of that original figure will be enough to lure the defender from the Santiago Bernabeu, swapping Madrid for Manchester.
- Manchester United FC
- Real Madrid FC
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