Manchester United are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Real Madrid’s highly-rated centre back Raphael Varane.
The France international is believed to be one of a number of targets for Jose Mourinho, who is looking to strengthen his squad again at the end of this season.
Varane has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the past. Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him in 2011 before settling for Phil Jones when the Frenchman chose Madrid over Manchester.
Now the Mirror report that the Premier League giants will renew their pursuit of the 24-year-old, who played under Mourinho during the Portuguese manager’s spell in Spain.
They claim Real are prepared to sell Varane but want £50million for the centre-back. United are reportedly willing to pay only around £40m.
Varane, who moved to the Spanish capital from French club Lens in 2011, last summer signed a new deal to keep him at the Bernabeu until 2022.
But Mourinho is believed to want to bring him to England – four years after failing to sign the defender during his second spell at Chelsea.
United are also being linked with moves for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Barcelona defender Samuel Umtititi.
Luke Shaw, meanwhile, is one defender set to leave the Old Trafford club, with the futures of Jones, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof all reportedly uncertain.
