Transfer News: Real Madrid seek at least £51m from manchester United for Raphael Varane
According to the transfer news section of the Metro, Real Madrid are seeking at least £51m for Raphael Varane amidst interest from Manchester United.
The 27-year-old has been at Real for a decade now and has made 355 appearances for the legendary Spanish club. He has also played a key role in Los Blancos’ success in Europe in the 2010s.
With just over a year to go on his current deal, uncertainty continues to grow regarding his future at the club. Contract negotiations have hit a stumbling block and clubs such as United are keeping a keen eye on the proceedings.
According to Spanish newspaper ABC (h/t The Metro), Varane’s representatives are seeking a pay rise while Real are keen to see the whole squad take a 10% pay cut.
The Spaniards are unlikely to accede to the player’s demands and talks have so far reached an impasse. They are now braced to sell Varane in the upcoming summer rather than risk losing him for a free next year.
This is good news for United, who are desperate to bring in a dependable centre-back to partner skipper Harry Maguire at the back. With Real looking to bring in a number of players, ridding themselves of Varane will help boost their transfer kitty.
Long-term suitors
United have been keeping track of Varane since his emergence at Rennes. Despite losing out to Real in 2011, the Red Devils have continued to monitor the Frenchman.
Real are seeking a price from anywhere between £51m to £59m and are aware that Varane is looking for a new challenge. While the price may be considered steep in the current climate, United would be getting themselves a world-class player in his prime.
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Varane appears to be a cheaper alternative to Jules Kounde. Not only is the Frenchman more experienced but is also a readymade asset who can go straight into our backline.
The Red Devils will do well to sell their project to the 27-year-old. After all, there are few better challenges in world football today than to resurrect United’s glory days.