Sources: Man Utd closing in on Varane deal

<div class="article-meta"><span class="timestamp" data-behavior="date_time" data-date="2021-07-01T08:23:29Z"><span class="time" data-dateformat="time1" data-showtimezone="true">4:23 AM ET</span></span></div> <p><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=360">Manchester United</a> are close to finalising a deal for <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=86">Real Madrid</a> defender <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/153053/Raphaël-Varane">Raphael Varane</a>, sources have told ESPN.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=478">France</a> international, whose contract at Bernabeu is due to expire in June 2022, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top defensive target and sources have said that United are ready to move for the 28-year-old after receiving encouragement that Madrid are prepared to negotiate a realistic fee for the player.</p> <p><strong>– <a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/88f27099-2a08-4c9c-9792-6aa026eff3f1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)</a></strong><br /><strong>– <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4366623/when-does-the-transfer-window-re-open-premier-leagueserie-ala-ligabundesligaligue-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When does the transfer window re-open?</a> | <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/transfers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Confirmed deals</a></strong><br /><strong>– Transfer dominoes: <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4359705/transfer-dominoes-how-could-messihaalandmbappe-or-pogbas-move-affect-the-summer-window" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How one big move could impact things</a></strong></p> <p>United will complete their <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4423992/jadon-sancho-to-join-manchester-united-from-borussia-dortmund-for-729m-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first major piece of transfer business</a> this summer by signing <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=124">Borussia Dortmund</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=448">England</a> forward <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/259836/Jadon-Sancho">Jadon Sancho</a> for £72.9 million once the 21-year-old’s involvement at <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/league/_/name/uefa.euro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Euro 2020</a> comes to a conclusion, but a move for an experienced defender is the next issue to be addressed by football director John Murtough.</p> <p>United had been considering <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=102">Villarreal</a>‘s defender <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/251100/Pau-Torres">Pau Torres</a> as an alternative, but efforts to sign Varane have now been stepped up following <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-european-championship/story/4422769/france-switzerland-delivered-euro-2020s-second-thriller-of-the-day-how-social-media-reacted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">France’s surprise exit from Euro 2020</a> in the wake of Tuesday’s round-of-16 defeat against <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=475">Switzerland</a>.</p> <p>Despite Varane’s diminishing contract, Madrid had initially valued the centre-half at €70m — a price-tag that United regarded as too high for a player entering the final year of his contract.</p> <aside class="inline inline-photo full"> <figure><picture><source media="(min-width: 376px)" srcset="https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0701%2Fr874811_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=570&format=jpg, https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0701%2Fr874811_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=1140&cquality=40&format=jpg 2x"></source><source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0701%2Fr874811_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=375, https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2021%2F0701%2Fr874811_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=750&cquality=40&format=jpg 2x"></source><img class=" lazyload lazyload" data-image-container=".inline-photo"></picture><figcaption class="photoCaption">Raphael Varane has played a key role in Real Madrid’s recent success. <cite>Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images</cite></figcaption></figure> </aside> <p>But with Madrid needing to offload players to fund a rebuild of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, United are confident that a deal can be done for a fee in the region of €50m.</p> <p>Madrid could use the money raised by the departure of Varane to move for Torres, who has a €65m release clause at <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/league/_/name/uefa.europa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Europa League</a> winners Villarreal.</p> <p>The 24-year-old has impressed for <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/team?id=164">Spain</a> at Euro 2020 and with Varane set to follow <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/41579/Sergio-Ramos">Sergio Ramos</a> out of the Bernabeu — Ramos is leaving as a free agent — Madrid need reinforcements at the back.</p> <p>Madrid’s interest in Torres could be placed on hold for 12 months, however, if the Spanish club opt instead to pursue moves for <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/253989/Erling-Haaland">Erling Haaland</a> or <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé">Kylian Mbappe</a>.</p> <p>Madrid’s financial position is complicated, and a “<i>galactico</i>” signing would mean Torres would have to wait until 2022.</p> <p>Sources told ESPN the defender remains a Madrid target though, “whether it’s for now or for next year,” and Torres’ preference would be to stay in Spain rather than try the <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/league/_/name/eng.1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a>.</p> <p>Villarreal have also received interest in star forward <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/156172/Gerard-Moreno">Gerard Moreno</a>, but the club are in a healthy financial state and do not need to sell this summer.</p> <p><i>ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report</i></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://patabook.com/sports/2021/07/01/sources-man-utd-closing-in-on-varane-deal/">Sources: Man Utd closing in on Varane deal</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://patabook.com/sports">Patabook Sports</a>.</p>

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