Transfer News: Manchester United, Chelsea told to shell out €50 million to sign Raphael Varane

Manchester United and Chelsea are on red alert over Real Madrid’s defensive sensation Raphael Varane, who could be available for just €50 million in the summer.

The upcoming summer transfer window could be the one for high-profile defenders. The likes of Dayot Upamecano, Milan Skriniar and David Alaba have already gained a lot of traction in the market and it appears Real Madrid superstar Raphael Varane could be the next player to join a new club and that too for a fee of just €50 million, as per reports from Marca.

The Frenchman, whose contract is expiring at the end of next season, is yet to renew his deal since 2017. It is believed that he could be considering leaving Santiago Bernabeu in search of a new challenge. He has also signed a partnership deal with CAA Sports, who are quite active in the Premier League. It has invariably attracted the interest of English giants Manchester United & Chelsea, with PSG also keen.

For Real Madrid, this makes things quite difficult. They are reportedly in pole position to secure the services of Alaba in the summer. But, they are also braced to lose Sergio Ramos, whose contract expires at the end of the season. There have been disputes between the player and the board regarding a contract extension, so his departure from the Bernabeu remains likely.

The exit of Varane could, therefore, put Los Blancos in an even more perilous situation. The former RC Lens prodigy has been seen as a potential leadership candidate at the club. Unfortunately, though, a sustained desire to depart could leave Real Madrid with no option but to cash in on him this summer.

The asking price could be as minimal as €50 million in light of the club’s financial losses caused by the pandemic coupled with the player’s expiring contract – giving clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea an ideal opportunity to sign one of Europe’s best centre-backs for a bargain price.

Chelsea, for one, have once again shown a lot of intent in the market. The Blues are one of the clubs linked with a move for Alaba but could find Varane a more appealing option due to his leadership qualities. It could be useful for the newly appointed Thomas Tuchel as he looks to find a long-term replacement for the ageing Thiago Silva.

For Manchester United, there has been an evident lack of leadership at the back as well – making Varane an ideal investment for both these clubs and it will be interesting to see whether we can witness a potential transfer duel between these two English giants in  pursuit of the Real Madrid superstar this summer.