Manchester United hoping to strengthen central defence with Raphael Varane

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Real Madrid are facing a battle to keep Raphaël Varane this summer and expect Manchester United to renew their interest in the France international centre-back. United are long-term admirers of the 28-year-old but he was not for sale three years ago during Jose Mourinho’s time at the club when they were looking at a £100 million deal to bolster their defensive options. The Spanish champions are poised to accept a much lower price this summer as Varane will have just one year left on his contract at the Santiago Bernabéu. While captain Sergio Ramos is out of contract at the end of the campaign, it is Varane who is considered the more likely to leave at this stage. After considering Varane in 2018, United turned their attention to Harry Maguire the following summer but are now in the market for a long-term partner for the England centre-back. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has used Victor Lindelof most regularly alongside Maguire, with Eric Bailly another option. La Liga are expected to announce losses of €1 billion for this season and a reduction in salary caps for clubs, which will put Premier League teams in a good position to compete for players such as Varane at the right price, even if the coronavirus pandemic impacts the whole of the transfer market. Why would United want him? Solskjaer considers his central defence one of the areas he could strengthen. Maguire is the pillar around which his defence is built and adding Varane would give United potentially one of the strongest centre-back partnerships in the Premier League. Varane has only missed one La Liga game this season and the World Cup-winner is seen as the type of player who would adapt perfectly to English football. Why would Madrid sell? Varane has one full season left on his current contract and Real risk losing him on a free transfer in 2022. Given the losses suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, Real will be expected to consider offers when they arrive. It was announced in September that Varane had joined CAA Base agency, who have a London office and have been involved in big Premier League deals. Is anyone else in for him? Other clubs would consider a World Cup winning centre-back on the market. Bayern Munich, however, are already committed to Dayot Upamecano. Liverpool have suffered injury problems this season during the defence of their Premier League title but their intentions for the summer are not yet known.

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