Manchester United receive boost in landing Real Madrid centre-back

Manchester United could make a summer approach to sign Raphael Varane from Real Madrid amid suggestions that the European champions may make the Frenchman available in the transfer market.

Varane has been an indispensable member for Los Blancos over the past eight years and his performances have previously caught the eye of the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

However, according to The Independent, the Bernabeu giants may consider the Frenchman's sale in the summer, given they are keen to trump arch-rivals Barcelona to the signing of Ajax skipper Matthijs de Ligt.

The Ajax graduate is likely to want assurances of a regular starting role to make the summer move and it is suggested that they could guarantee him the same with Varane making way from the club.

United have tried to pursue Varane since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of the club and reports indicate that the World Cup winner would fancy a switch to the Premier League in the summer.