Real Madrid are ‘prepared to sell £61m-rated Raphael Varane to Manchester United this summer’
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Real Madrid are reportedly ready to sell Raphael Varane to Manchester United this summer in order to help fund their mammoth £174million swoop of Kylian Mbappe.
Varane has entered the final 18 months of his current deal with Real and would be allowed to leave the club for free next summer if he fails to agree on new terms with the club.
According to Manchester Evening News, the Spanish champions are pessimistic over Varane extending his stay at the Bernabeu and would rather recoup as much of his £61m market value instead of letting him run down his contract and leave for nothing.
Real Madrid are ‘prepared to sell Raphael Varane to Manchester United’ this summer
The report claims Varane believes there is too great a difference between the new salary he has been offered and what the highest-earners at the club are getting.
With the talks at a standstill, it would allow United to take advantage of the situation with the Red Devils long-term admirers of the World Cup winner.
Real’s current financial woes due to the pandemic will also see the club cut costs if they are to finance a deal for PSG superstar Mbappe this summer.
While the club still reportedly have a £180m war chest for squad reinforcements, which would cover the cost of Mbappe’s transfer fee, they would still need to sell players in order to balance the books – and Varane would be one of the main players Real would be willing to sacrifice.
Real are looking to fund a £174million move for Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe
Solskjaer (left) wants to add more more experience to his backline alongside Harry Maguire
This is also not the first time time Varane – who signed his last deal at the club in 2017 – has been linked with a move away, with the 27-year-old considering a transfer in early 2019 before the return of compatriot Zinedine Zidane at the helm.
As well as United, Paris Saint-Germain have held an interest in the defender previously while a report from MARCA last month claimed those two European giants – as well as Chelsea and Juventus – would be interested this time around too.
United are looking to prioritise signing a new centre back to partner Harry Maguire in defence once the window reopens, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping for more experience in his side to help the club get back to the very top of the footballing pyramid.
Varane was linked with a move to United following his successful World Cup campaign in 2018, which saw United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward line up a £100m move for the Frenchman.
Varane was considering his future in 2019 before the return of compatriot Zinedine Zidane
However, the four-time Champions League winner’s price tag far exceeded what United were offering, leaving United to search elsewhere.
France international Varane joined Madrid from French outfit Lens in 2011, and has won three LaLiga crowns on top of his four European crowns since his transfer.
But should he depart, Madrid could move for Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, who has been heavily linked and has confirmed he will be leaving the Allianz Arena as a free agent this summer.
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