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Manchester United Facing Last-Minute Competition From Chelsea And PSG In Bid To Sign Raphael Varane From Real Madrid

Manchester United Facing Last-Minute Competition From Chelsea And PSG In Bid To Sign Raphael Varane From Real Madrid

United thought they had their man but Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to launch 11th-hour bids.

Thomas Harvey

Thomas Harvey

Just when Manchester United thought their deal for Raphael Varane was done, the Red Devils are now reportedly facing last-minute competition from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for the Real Madrid defender.

United are believed to be close to signing the 28-year-old from Real and are willing to pay the Frenchman £10.2m a year.

However, according to Marca, Chelsea are now ready to launch an 11th-hour bid of their own, while PSG are also thought to be interested in the 2018 World Cup winner.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Varane only has one year left on his contract at Real Madrid, but Los Blancos are still holding out for a fee of around £50m.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified Varane as an ideal central defensive partner for club captain Harry Maguire.

But Chelsea are now thought to be in the mix with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel a big fan of the centre-half. Varane could replace Antonio Rudiger at Stamford Bridge. The German is out of contract in a year and the two parties have yet to open talks on a new deal.

England full-back Kieran Trippier, 30, could also move to Old Trafford after two successful years at Atletico Madrid - and a transfer worth £18m is in the final stages.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Deals for Trippier and Varane would take United's summer spending to more than £140m with the arrival of winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes the signings of those three will help United challenge for the Premier League title this season.

"Varane is a top quality player," he told talkSPORT. "I was really impressed with him during the Euros.

"He's an excellent defender and that will be a great signing for Manchester United.

"We know what Trippier can do. It means Man United could play three at the back and while [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka is the main man, Trippier can play left-back as well, so he's very good cover and he's a great pro as well.

"He was excellent around the England camp and is very experienced now after two great years at Atletico, so he'll be another good signing for the money.

"If you've got a good defence, you've always got a chance, and with the attacking players they've got, and with Sancho coming in, it will give them a much better chance of getting closer and challenging for that title."

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