Manchester United and Chelsea look set to fight it out over Real Madrid defender
Both Manchester United and Chelsea are set to try to lure unsettled defender Raphael Varane to England according to the Mirror.
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The 21-year-old has struggled to cement a place in the centre of the defence this season with Sergio Ramos and Pepe preferred by Carlo Ancelotti when both are available, so could be looking to move away from the Bernabeu in the summer.
The news that Real Madrid are currently discussing a new deal for Pepe may be the last straw for the Frenchman, who is now considering his options elsewhere.
Louis Van Gaal is reportedly interested in Varane as he looks to bolster his defensive options for next season.
But Manchester United will have to see off interest from Chelsea if they want to complete a deal.
Jose Mourinho is looking for a long-term replacement for John Terry at the heart of the defence and may turn to Varane, a player signed during Mourinho’s tenure at Madrid, to fill that void.
The stumbling block in the way of any potential deal lies in Varane’s contract which expires in 2020, so it would require an offer of at least £25m to make the Spanish giants consider a deal.