Chelsea set to rival Manchester United for world-class defender

Manchester United will be expected to make a few signings in the upcoming summer transfer window as they aim to build upon a very good season. And one of these signings could turn out to be a centre-back.

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof appear to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice pairing in the heart of defence. And the duo have shown a lot of improvement over the course of the season. But there is a feeling that the Red Devils could strengthen even further in the position.

Also, the likes of Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have all been linked with moves away from the club. Thus, it might be very important to sign a centre-back in the summer.

One man who has been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford in recent months is Raphael Varane. The French World Cup winner’s contract with Real Madrid is set to run out in the summer of 2022 and as a result, he could be on the move at the end of the current campaign. But Manchester United appear to have some competition in the race for his signature from Chelsea. Christian Falk tweeted out:

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Signing Varane could be a brilliant move for Manchester United

Varane is without doubt one of the most highly-rated defenders in world football at this point of time. He has already won the World Cup as well as multiple Champions League titles. And at 27 years of age, he is in the prime of his career.

Thus, it is not hard to see why Chelsea would also want him. While they have had an impressive defensive record under Thomas Tuchel, the club will surely be looking to improve further in the position with Thiago Silva set to turn 37 at the start of next season. In fact, it would not be surprising if more clubs enter the race for his signature in case the defender becomes available this summer.

Signing someone like Varane could take the current Manchester United defence to the next level. Now it remains to be seen if the Red Devils are able to pull off a deal in the near future if he does indeed leave Real Madrid.