Transfer Centre

Raphael Varane 'remains top Manchester United target'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 03 April 2019

Manchester United make Raphael Varane their top defensive target, despite Real Madrid's reluctance to sell and increased competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane is reportedly still Manchester United's top defensive target, despite increased competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

The France international has been tipped to depart the Bernabeu this summer after allegedly telling the Spanish giants that he wants to begin a new journey elsewhere.

United and PSG are both after defensive cover ahead of next season and see the 25-year-old as the ideal purchase, though they may have a difficult task persuading Real to offload.

According to The Independent, however, the Red Devils have not been put off and they are confident Los Blancos will cash in as they are planning their biggest squad overhaul since 2009.

PSG could have an advantage over their rivals as Real are supposedly after two of their players - forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - but if United can match their fee then the decision will ultimately be down to Varane.

Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax are other possible options for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men.