Manchester City join transfer race for Real Madrid superstar

According to a report from the Metro, Manchester City have joined the transfer race for Real Madrid star Raphael Varane.

Real Madrid are increasingly resigned to losing Raphael Varane, 28, who has a contract until the summer of 2022.

The Metro claims the Los Blancos refuse to lose him on a free transfer next year and are willing to sell now between £40m-£45m, with Manchester United leading the race for the Frenchman’s signature.

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Raphael Varane is currently at the European Championships with France. The centre-back has enjoyed a glittering decade-long stay at Real Madrid, winning every single major honour.

The 28-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea, has expressed his desire to not extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu as he wants to face a fresh challenge elsewhere, the report adds.

Although Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains keen on signing the French World Cup winner to partner skipper Harry Maguire in central defence next term, Manchester City are the latest club to show an interest in Varane.

In Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has three outstanding central defenders in his ranks. Dias and Stones forming a strong partnership at the back last season limited Laporte to fewer starting opportunities and the Frenchman is willing to end his time at the Etihad Stadium this summer for regular game time elsewhere.

Should Laporte leave the Sky Blues, Guardiola will need to bring in a replacement having already lost centre-back Eric Garcia on a free transfer to Barcelona earlier this month. Varane, in that regard, would simply be a top replacement as he is regarded as one of the best centre-backs across Europe.

The Frenchman is a player with tons of experience at the highest level and a winning mentality. He would instantly make City’s backline stronger, whilst giving Guardiola’s squad the push they require to go one step further in the coveted Champions League competition after the last month’s heartbreak in Portugal.

Varane’s potential arrival at Manchester City; however, could break last campaign’s centre-back partnership of Stones and Dias, and perhaps leave the former’s future uncertain, who knows? But rumoured to be available between £40m-£45m this summer, Varane is an irresistible commodity to pass on for the English champions.

With Varane eyeing an exit, Real Madrid would hope a strong Euro 2020 with France helps in sparking up further interest in their star defender.