Manchester United edge closer to signing Raphael Varane with 'personal terms agreed'

Manchester United are closing in on signing Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane with personal terms reportedly agreed.

The centre back has been one of United’s top transfer targets this summer with his Bernabeu deal set to expire next year.

And now his arrival at Old Trafford is imminent with the finer details of his switch in place, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Varane returned to Real’s training ground on Friday for pre-season medical checks. The report claims he trained with the Spanish giants on Monday but travel plans have been sorted for his move to England.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to partner Varane with captain Harry Maguire in the heart of his defence. 

Solskjaer looks set for a perfect transfer window, having already solved their lack of quality on the right wing with the £73m signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer. 

Their other long-standing shortcoming was a central defender to play alongside England star Maguire, with Victor Lindelof struggling to complement the £80m man’s abilities. 

Sancho’s arrival and the impeding signing of Varane is a sign of intent from Solskjaer’s side that they are ready to breach the gap between them and rivals City, who won the Premier League by 12 points last season. 

United finished second in England’s top flight last term and also ended the campaign as Europa League runners-up to Villarreal – who defeated the Red Devils after a long-running penalty shootout in the Gdansk final.