Man United can sign ‘next Raphael Varane’ to replace Frenchman but he’ll cost £43m this summer

Man United can sign ‘next Raphael Varane’ to replace Frenchman but he’ll cost £43m this summer

Manchester United can replace Raphael Varane and land a potential defensive star for the next decade at the cost of £43million, if interest is stepped up in wonderkid Leny Yoro.

Former Real Madrid centre-back Varane announced that he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season on Tuesday, ending three years in the Premier League.

With at least one defender leaving United this summer and a host of injuries that have seen Casemiro used as a makeshift option in the backline to little success, the club’s new decision-makers INEOS are likely to enter the transfer market to bolster their options and better protect goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are big admirers of Lille’s 18-year-old centre-back Yoro. They also have a strong relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes which could help them sign the starlet, who has been likened to departing star Varane.

German outlet Sport1 claim that Lille are demanding a fee in the region of £43m, though that price has dropped from the £77m that it would have cost to sign Yoro in January.

United are not currently prepared to meet the Ligue 1 side’s valuation, however, as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also said to hold an interest in the teenager.

Yoro’s contract is up next summer and Lille risk losing him on a free transfer if they do not sell him before the 2024/25 season or agree terms on a new deal.