United join race for Varane

Manchester United are keen to pip Premier League leaders Chelsea in the race to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, the Express understands.

With both Manchester City target Pepe and Sergio Ramos both set to commit their future to the Spanish giants, France international Varane is considering his options.

Having moved to the Spanish capital from Lens in the summer of 2011, the 21 year old is closing in on one hundred appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals while he has winners medals in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup.

Internationally, he has seventeen caps for his country, three of which came at last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Real return to league action with a trip to Valencia on Sunday afternoon where they can be backed at a price of 4/7 to take all three points.