Manchester United are on the brink of signing Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, according to various reports.
Jadon Sancho was United's primary target this summer, and they accomplished that mission earlier this month when they finally, mercifully reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund. Priority number two is finding a partner for Harry Maguire, and with that in mind, Varane has been the talk of the town.
The French defender is out of contract at Real in a year, and at 28, United see him as the ideal choice to add some experience to the back line while also settling into a starting role for the long-term. Other candidates were Vilarreal's Pau Torres and Sevilla's Jules Kounde, but it seems a deal for Varane is well and truly on.
It was reported last week that talks between United and Real are progressing well, and now AS journalist Edu Cornago has claimed that a deal is 'very close.'
He was asked on Twitter about the timescale on a potential deal, and responded by saying that Varane 'welcomes the option' of joining United, and is not convinced by the prospect of staying at the Bernabeu.
Varane has chosen not to sign a new contract with Real Madrid, and wants to join Man United. ✍️?
— 90min (@90min_Football) June 25, 2021
This came hours before fan podcast United Muppetiers made a similar claim. Their information was more wishy-washy, but the gist of it is that everyone from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the player himself is desperate for the deal to happen, and that the prospect of signing a new deal in Madrid is virtually off the table.
It's not clear where their information is coming from - it may well just be a rewritten version of what is being claimed elsewhere, given it came out nine hours later - but either way, it is beginning to seem like Varane to United may be a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'.
Source : 90min