Real Madrid are reportedly open to the idea of selling Liverpool target Raphael Varane this summer if the French defender is more interested in leaving the club than staying.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, as transcribed by The Mirror, Real Madrid are starting to worry about Varane’s future as his contract continues to wind down, with his deal due to expire at the end of next season.
The report also claims Manchester United are ready to pounce if the opportunity arises to sign £70m-rated Varane, whilst PSG and Liverpool have been linked with the defender to provide competition for his signature.
It appears as though this transfer saga will all be decided by Varane’s feelings in the coming weeks or months. If Varane decides that he wants to stay with Real Madrid, the Spanish giants seem set on keeping him around and may not be willing to entertain any offers – especially if he ends up signing a new contract with the club.
Whereas, Varane could blow the race wide open if he tells Real that he wants to seek new pastures this summer. The French defender could, as the article claims, force Real into cashing in on him at the end of the season if he has his mind set on an exit from Zinedine Zidane’s side. Real may not want to run the risk of him seeing out his contract and leaving on a free when they could get the £70m quoted in the article for him this summer, giving them the funds to source a replacement.
From Liverpool’s point of view, though, it will be interesting to see if they are willing to part ways with £70m to sign Varane. Liverpool’s finances have reportedly been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that shelling out £70m for a player who will be in the last year of his contract seems like an unlikely move for the club.