Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing 25-year-old French defender Presnel Kimpembe as a long-term replacement for compatriot Raphael Varane.
According to reputed Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, Real Madrid are intensifying their search for a long-term replacement for Raphael Varane. To that end, 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Presnel Kimpembe has emerged on the radar of the Spanish giants over a move in the summer transfer window.
Kimpembe joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2005, around the time he turned 10 before making swift progress in their youth setup. The French defender broke into Les Parisiens’ first-team setup in 2014 and has since grown into a key figure for the club, amassing 180 appearances to date for the Ligue 1 giants.
At the same time, the 25-year-old has also established himself as a mainstay for the French national side, forming the first-choice central defensive partnership with Raphael Varane. As fate would have it, Kimpembe could now be set to replace Varane at club level, with Real Madrid identifying him as a potential replacement for their star defender.
Varane is heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, with widespread reports suggesting that the Red Devils are close to reaching an agreement with Real Madrid to land the Frenchman. So despite the arrival of David Alaba, who can possibly be utilised as a centre-back, Los Blancos would be in need of another central defender.
Indeed, Varane’s potential departure, shortly after former captain Sergio Ramos’s move to PSG, will leave Carlo Ancelotti with Eder Militao, Nacho and Alaba as the only recognised centre-backs at his disposal. There have been suggestions that Jesus Vallejo could make a big return to the first-team setup this term, but it will be prudent on Real Madrid’s part to sign a centre-back as well.
To that end, Real Madrid have been linked with the likes of Matthias Ginter, Giorgio Chiellini and Caglar Soyuncu, among others, with Kimpembe the latest to have emerged on their radar. As per Ekrem Konur, the interest comes straight from Ancelotti himself, who views the 25-year-old French defender as the ideal long-term replacement for his compatriot.
Any move for Kimpembe, though, is likely to hinge on how quickly Manchester United can seal the deal for Varane. PSG’s stance on a possible summer sale will also be interesting to witness and it remains to be seen if Real Madrid can land Kimpembe as replacement for Varane.
