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Manchester United are making progress on a transfer deal for France and Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign a new centre-back this summer to partner club captain Harry Maguire and has identified Varane, 28, as his top target.
Varane has established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe during his ten-year spell at Madrid, helping the Spanish club win four Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles.
Manchester United’s opening £50m offer for Varane was rebuffed by Real Madrid but the MEN say the Red Devils are still making progress as they attempt to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford.
Varane started all three of France’s Euro 2020 group matches as the World Cup holders finished top of Group F to set up a last-16 clash with Switzerland.
As well as targeting Varane, Manchester United are closing in on a stunning deal for England and Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho after submitting a £72.5m bid.
Last week, former Red Devils star Nicky Butt urged Solskjaer to go ‘all out’ for Varane this summer and said he was a player capable of helping the club win trophies next season.
The six-time Premier League winner told Ladbrokes: ‘For me, next season has to be about getting some silverware back in that trophy cabinet for Manchester United.
‘It’s about getting the right players who will allow you to challenge for trophies. It’s a winning club, so we can’t go this long without silverware.
‘The biggest thing that needs addressing for me at Manchester United this summer is that centre-back position; we need a partner for Harry Maguire.
‘It has to be someone that’s going to be compatible with Maguire. If you spend the kind of money you did on Harry Maguire, you then have to follow it up by bringing someone in who can play with him.
‘He’s the club captain; Victor Lindelof is too similar to him. It needs to be someone with pure, blistering pace, someone who can play out from the back.
‘Everyone talks about Raphael Varane. I understand he’s a little bit older than most people would perhaps like, but you just have to go back to the days of Teddy Sheringham.
‘I think we bought him when he was 32, and we went and won the treble with him. If Varane is available, then I’d go all out for him.’
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