Manchester United face big decision as Madrid hold firm on French defender

With the eyes of the footballing world fixated on Euro 2020, it appears that a number of Premier League clubs are working hard in the background to complete their first summer transfers. 

A number of clubs have been linked with high profile transfers, with Jadon Sancho, Erling Braut Haaland and Romelu Lukaku all heavily linked with potential moves to the Premier League.

However, it appears that Manchester United have already made the first move in their pursuit of a French international, and have already hit a potential stumbling block.

According to the Manchester Evening News, United have failed with their opening bid for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.

The report suggests that United offered a fee of around £50 million, some way short of the Spanish side’s valuation of £80 million.

Varane, who is currently at the Euros with France, is out of contract next summer and United are therefore reluctant to meet Madrid’s higher valuation.

The Red Devils are keen on singing an experienced centre back to partner Harry Maguire, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not seeing either Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly as the long term solution to the problem.

Varane was pivotal to France’s 1-0 victory over Germany

Madrid announced this week that veteran defender Sergio Ramos will depart the club at the end of the month, ending a 16-year stay in the Spanish capital.

The Spanish giants have already replaced the Spaniard, however, with the announcement of David Alaba joining them expected imminently.

Varane, 28, impressed in France’s Euro 2020 opener against Germany on Tuesday and, despite having just a year left on his current deal, the club are still confident of securing a fee for the player rather than losing him for nothing next summer.

It is not yet known whether United will counter Madrid’s rejection, but performances like his in the game against Germany will do United few favours.