Chelsea and Manchester United are ready to battle it out to sign £25m Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.
The Red Devils were unable to strengthen their defence in the January transfer window but did agree a deal in principle with Borussia Dortmund for defender Mats Hummels in the region of £37m ahead of a summer move.
United are now ready to partner the German World Cup winning centre-back with Frenchman Raphael Varane, who has struggled to maintain a starting place in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is likely to push United’s interest all the way as he holds a firm admiration for Varane, having allowed him to breakthrough in the first team whilst in charge of the Spanish giants.
Varane is said to be unhappy at Santiago Bernabeu after seeing playing time hard to come by this season and has been slapped with a valuation of £25m.
United boss Louis van Gaal believes that Hummels and Varane would compliment each other well at the heart of the United defence and that the club would be able to make a serious title push next season with those two signings.