REAL MADRID are reportedly ready to sell Raphael Varane after the Manchester United target asked for a new challenge.
A summer transfer is said to be the 28-year-old’s desire following a decade at the Bernabeu.
Varane is out of contract in a year’s time and Los Blancos do not want to lose him on a free while battling the pandemic financial crisis.
According to The Athletic, a bid as little as £40million could persuade Real to sell up after talks with the player’s representatives.
And he could be one of several stars to leave Madrid, who are gathering funds ahead of a bid for Kylian Mbappe.
The club’s mammoth wage bill needs to be cut before they can offer the Paris Saint-Germain forward a contract.
Mbappe, 22, is also out of contract in 2022 and Real are reportedly plotting a free transfer deal with a mega salary offer.
Varane is currently starring for France at Euro 2020 and is expected to start against Portugal on Wednesday night.
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It has been suggested that United will use Paul Pogba, also out of contract in a year’s time, as a makeweight for the centre-back.
Manchester City and Chelsea are also as tracking Varane but the Red Devils are described as the frontrunners to secure his services.
A number of defenders have been named as targets for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, who want a new partner for Harry Maguire.
Pau Torres and Jules Kounde continue to be linked in deals that would cost north of £50m.
Villarreal and Spain ace Torres recently stated that he is ‘calm’ about his future while attempting to deliver a last-16 spot for his country.
The 24-year-old said: “I have a contract at Villarreal, I just won the first title for the club, we have qualified for the Champions League and it is something that excites me a lot.
“Now I’m focused on the Euros. Then the Super Cup and nice things will come, so I’m totally calm.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
