Real Madrid defensive mainstay Raphael Varane is reportedly set to become the subject of a £40 million offer from Premier League giants Manchester United.
According to a report from the Mirror, Manchester United are ready to step up their pursuit of Real Madrid superstar Raphael Varane by launching a £40 million offer for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winning defender.
Varane has been with Real Madrid since 2011, having joined from French club RC Lens, snubbing interest from Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United at the time. Having arrived in Spain, the defender has grown into one of the best in his position in the game, amassing over 350 appearances for Los Blancos, while winning every trophy there is for the taking along the way.
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At 28, Varane is in the peak years of his career and now set to enter the final year of his contract with the reigning La Liga champions, the French international is said to be seeking a new challenge in his career. This has sparked a flurry of interest in his services heading into the summer transfer window, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea keen on the centre-back.
And now, it is being claimed that Manchester United are ready to act on their interest in Varane by launching an offer worth £40 million for his services. It is no secret at this point that the Red Devils are seeking reinforcements in the centre-back department heading into the new season, which is a necessary addition given the inconsistencies of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof over the course of their stints at Old Trafford.
The said inconsistency was on full display as Manchester United were hammered 4-2 by Liverpool at home earlier this week, highlighting the need of another top-class centre-half to partner club captain Harry Maguire as the team looks to take the next step in their progression under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
While a host of defenders have been linked with a move to M-16 over the past few months, the aforementioned report claims that Solskjaer has demanded that the club signs Varane from Real Madrid. And, given his contract situation, Manchester United are hopeful of getting a deal done for a fee of £40 million, even though recent reports have insisted that the Merengues would want a sum of around £60 million for the Frenchman.
It now remains to be seen if Manchester United’s attempt to sign Varane yields the desired result or whether Real Madrid knock back their £40 million offer and stand firm on their valuation. For now, it seems like the Red Devils have narrowed in on the 28-year-old French centre-back to bolster their backline.
