Following positive talks making rounds on the web, Premier League giants Manchester United are one-step closer to securing a deal with Real Madrid for the signing of their central defender Raphael Varane.
While Varane, according to reports, has returned to pre-season training with his parent club, a move to the Old Trafford is looking highly increasing on the cards as discussions continue.
According to reports from Manchester Evening News, the Manchester based news outlet claims the Red Devils have agreed personal terms with the 28-year-old France international and are understood to almost reached an agreement on the transfer with Real Madrid.
Varane has a year left on his current contract with Real Madrid, who he joined from Lens in 2011. He has helped the Spanish giants win a glut of silverware, including the Champions League four times and three LaLiga titles. Varane has played 79 times for France and was part of the side that won the 2018 World Cup.
United securing his services would add to to the capture of England winger Jadon Sancho, whose £73million move from Borussia Dortmund was completed last week. While the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are also linked with the Frenchman, United are the leading contenders for Varane’s signature.
The Red Devils have also re-signed goalkeeper Tom Heaton this summer following his departure from Burnley. Ex-United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has backed his former club’s chase of Varane.
He said:
“He brings an absolute winning mentality. I think he’s played in 14 finals and won 14. So there’s an absolute winning mentality, he knows how to win, he’s got great experience and he’s an unbelievable specimen by the way.
“I’ve been saying alongside Maguire he needs someone with some pace the way Man United play.
“When I’ve seen Man United in problems and in trouble in games, a lot of the time teams have been given a bit of confidence or seen a chink in the armour of Man United when they see they can get people one v one or play the ball over the defence, into one of the channels and then it’s a race.
“We haven’t had the players quick enough to do that in the centre-back areas. If you get someone like him, people start thinking ‘well we ain’t gonna play the ball over the top cos Varane is gonna eat that up.’ Someone like him, he’ll bring that authority I hope to the back line.”
The Red Devils are still on the look-out for a central defender to partner captain Harry Maguire, Chelsea are next in the betting at 9/2 with Juventus fractionally behind at 5/1.