Aditya Bose
Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in the Manchester United defender Raphael Varane
According to Football Insider (h/t Manchester Evening News), Saudi Pro League clubs are showing interest in our French defender Raphael Varane.
He cost £41 million to move from Real Madrid to Manchester United after winning the Champions League, which was his fourth title in the competition. However, he has only made 73 appearances in a Red Devils jersey, with one assist and two goals.
Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, and Varane have all struggled with injuries, which have limited the defensive options available to the Red Devils. Ten Hag’s needs of late have been met by Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, the former of whom is experiencing a comeback at Old Trafford following his dismissal as captain earlier this year.
This season, Varane only played in a few matches as he continues to fight with different setbacks and injuries. January will find Ten Hag itching for reinforcements with the centre-back roster a key area.
With the capacity to compete with its European counterparts, Saudi Arabia hopes to make its local league one of the biggest in the globe. Varane thus meets the description of the player the Saudi Pro League is attempting to entice to its borders.
Therefore, it would seem that there is a greater chance this window than the previous that one of Europe’s most decorated players will join the Saudi Pro League. While it will be a loss for United, it is time we look to the future and bring in players we can build a new spine around.
More so, given Varane’s reputation and standing in the game, Manchester United could demand a decent transfer fee from the cash-flush Middle Eastern clubs. Surely we could recoup what was paid to Real Madrid if not more.
More Manchester United News-
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- Manchester United have contacted Galatasaray for Sacha Boey
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He would follow Alex Telles to Saudi Arabia if the move goes through, and the report also suggests that his departure would be just one of several this summer as Erik ten Hag looks to turn around a struggling squad.
Fresh blood brings with it new ambitions and we can do with a roster that is young and eager to prove itself. Varane will go down as one of the best defenders of his generation but we cannot also afford to be stuck in the past.
