Manchester United and Jose Mourinho have a tough task on their hands if they are to compete for the league title and the UCL trophy next season. The squad at Old Trafford is one of the strongest in England but not strong enough, as has been evident this season and the manager is already scouting for players he can add to his first team for the next season.
This has seen him linked with some exciting names recently and one name that has excited the fans is Raphael Varane.
Varane Tops Mourinho’s Wish-List:
According to reports from The Mirror, Mourinho is desperate to add quality to his backline and has been linked with the likes of Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld but French international Raphael Varane is the at the top of his wish-list.
A transfer target for the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson, Varane is an important player in the squad at Bernabeu but it is understood that Real have slapped a price tag of just £50m and are ready to listen to offers this summer. United will have no problem meeting his valuation but is Varane the right man for the Red Devils?
Varane And His Potential:
Standing as one of the best centre-backs in the game at the moment, the 24-year old moved to Spain back in 2011 from Lens and took his time to establish himself in the first team. He only became a first-team regular under Carlo Ancelotti in 2014 and has ever since been an integral part of the squad at Bernabeu.
He is the first choice defender for his club and country at the moment and has been in terrific form this season. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Varane is a quick and athletic CB, who uses his strength and understanding of the game to stay ahead of his rivals. He is strong in the air and hardly loses out in duels and has time and again shown that he can keep the best of the strikers in Europe at bay.
He is settled at Real Madrid and already has 222 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions till date. He also has 40 international caps for France and 57 Champions League appearance, making him an established star at such a young age.
Right Man For United?
The Red Devils are not convinced with the returns of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and Mourinho is expected to sell one or even both those names in the summer. Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind are no longer nailed on options at CB while Victor Lindelof needs more time to establish himself in the first team at Old Trafford.
Eric Bailly has been solid and will be the first choice next season for Mourinho and Varane is as good a partner as he can get. At just £50m, the French international is an absolute steal and United should do what it takes to land him this summer.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
