Chelsea could reportedly go head-to-head with Manchester United in the race to sign Raphael Varane, who wants to quit Real Madrid this summer
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, there is no shortage of suitors in pursuit of Raphael Varane. The French centre-back, who wants to leave Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, is the subject of interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus and PSG.
Varane has spent the past decade at Real Madrid, where he has won a glut of trophies while going on to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs in the game. Over the course of his stint with Los Blancos, the French international has amassed over 300 appearances for the club and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.
However, the player’s future at Real Madrid is highly uncertain following recent reports that he is eager to call it quits at the club following the end of the season. His situation has alerted a number of top clubs across Europe, with Manchester United and Chelsea among his possible suitors.
Manchester United have been reported to be in the market for a centre-back for quite some time now, with the Premier League heavyweights in search of a long-term partner for Harry Maguire. While Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have been decent enough this season, their fitness issues are warranting the addition of another central defender, with Varane on their radar.
Chelsea, on the other hand, need to lay down the succession plan for Thiago Silva despite only signing him last summer. With the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen blowing hot and cold, and Fikayo Tomori’s future at the club being uncertain, the Blues do need to be on the look-out for a centre-back, making Varane a viable target.
In addition to Manchester United and Chelsea, the likes of Juventus and PSG have also submitted enquiries over the possibility of signing the Real Madrid defender. And, with the 27-year-old looking to part ways with the Merengues, it will be interesting to see if any of the suitors end up launching the offensive for him.
For now, what remains certain is that Varane is exploring the possibility of leaving Real Madrid come the end of the season. With Manchester United and Chelsea among the clubs keeping tabs on him, a transfer battle could very well ensue in the summer transfer window.
