Manchester United have lodged a bid of £50m for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
United are on the hunt for somebody to partner Harry Maguire in defence and have long had Varane in their sights, and there is optimism that a deal can finally be done this summer as the Frenchman has just one year remaining on his contract.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United have opened with a formal offer of £50m, although Real have knocked that offer back and are holding out for closer to £80m.
United are reluctant to go much higher with their bid as Varane is on an expiring contract and would be available for free next summer.
Reports over the past few months have suggested that Real are willing to sell Varane this summer before he can leave for free, although that stance has been complicated somewhat by the departure of centre-back partner Sergio Ramos.
Shortly after the 35-year-old's departure from the club was announced, it was suggested that Real were ready to pay up to keep Varane at the Bernabeu, but whether that is actually the case is currently unclear.
The MEN state Varane is still up for sale and El Larguero's Manu Carreno says the same, insisting Real need the money and will cash in on Varane if the right offer arrives.
If Real stick to that £80m price tag, the right offer is never coming. Varane may be an elite defender but he's also a 28-year-old with an expiring contract, and the only club who would pay £80m for him at this point are Real themselves.
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have both been linked with Varane as well, but the chances of this sparking a bidding war are pretty slim if Real don't show any willingness to budge from their price tag.
United are considering a handful of other targets in defence, with Sevilla's Jules Kounde and Villarreal's Pau Torres both younger options who could cost similar to the £50m fee offered up for Varane.
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Source: 90min
