Manchester City do hold an interest in Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane, according to reports in the UK.
Up until now, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have been among the favourites to sign the France international, who has one year remaining on his contract.
Varane is not expected to sign a new deal and could be sold for around £40m to £45m this summer. Despite his availability for a relatively low price, fans on Twitter had a mixed reaction to City’s interest in the defender:
No please not…Jesus ended his career
— Yannick?? (@HornyMendy) June 23, 2021
IF WE SELL LAPORTE THEN HES PERFECTTTTTTT
— Cyrus ??♂️ (@SilkyCyrus_74) June 23, 2021
Varane turning up to training to see Gabriel Jesus pic.twitter.com/c2TnsBfugz
— ¹⁰ (@SxrgioSZN) June 23, 2021
Just to push up his price for United
— Dave ??? (@King_K_D_B) June 23, 2021
Varane and 10 mil for Laporte makes so much sense
— maxballin (@maxballin1) June 23, 2021
We don't need CB and We need a LB
— Alex (@ctidalexander) June 23, 2021
Only swap with Laporte.
— konstantynopolitanczykowianeczka (@ManKonsta) June 23, 2021
45 mil? Lol dreamers
— Eneji Charles Obi (@ICharly_SAYS) June 23, 2021
Straight swap for Laporte, simple & good business with €20m coming our way as well
— ?TonytheManc? ?life will get better guys ? (@tonythemanc) June 23, 2021
No thanks ake is better
— craig (@craigmcfc1981) June 23, 2021
The Frenchman’s form has certainly been erratic over the last couple of years, and he didn’t impress against City when the two sides clashed in the Champions League last summer.
However, the Citizens will be on the lookout for a new centre-back if Aymeric Laporte leaves the club and Varane would certainly not be a bad addition to the squad if he is available on the cheap.
