The Red Devils are now pushing for the Premier League title victory for the first time since 2013, having finished second to rivals Manchester City last season.
Manchester United have already secured the signing of their long-term target in Jadon Sancho. United were linked with Sancho last summer, and the player has agreed on personal terms with the club. United kept negotiating with Borussia Dortmund until the very end but could not reach an agreement with the former Bundesliga champions.
This summer, though, United made their intentions clear by securing the signature of the Englishman and completing the deal for him worth £73 million. The wingman is said to have completed his medicals at United and is now on vacation with Marcus Rashford.
One of the major talking points of United’s last season was their leaky backline. While Harry Maguire established himself as the best defender in the squad and as one of the best in England, there was not an able partner for the 26-year-old.
Having said that, Raphael Varane has been linked with a move to Old Trafford ever since he refused an extension with Real Madrid. The Frenchman has won 18 trophies in his glittering career at Santiago Bernabeu, spanning over a decade, including four UEFA Champions League title wins.
Varane is said to be one of United’s long-term targets as the think tank at Old Trafford is of the opinion that Varane’s experience at the backline will be highly beneficial to their cause of bringing the Premier League to Old Trafford for the first time since 2013.
While Real Madrid want to keep their man, Varane is said to be keen on a new challenge and hence, the 28-year-old has rejected a contract extension offer from the former La Liga champions. Real also understand that they will have to sell Varane this summer if he does not agree to an extension as then they would risk losing him for free next summer.
In what appears to be a transfer boost for Manchester United in their bid to sign Raphael Varane, Metro understands that Varane is not using United’s interest in signing him to land himself a bumper contract at his current club, as Sergio Ramos did back in 2015.
Varane is also already accustomed to playing with Antony Martial and Paul Pogba for the French national team for numerous years. Therefore, gelling in will not be an issue for the Frenchman, whose agents are already said to be in deep negotiations with United over the player’s contract.
Manchester United are expected to make a concrete offer this month for Varane, with Real Madrid said to be expecting a bid in the range of £40 million to part ways with their first-choice centre-back.
