Manchester United were one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market at the start of the season as Jose Mourinho decided to buy upgrades to every sector of his squad. His addition to the backline was Swedish international Victor Lindelof, who is only now settling into the first team.
The former Chelsea manager decided to stick with Eric Bailly, a player he brought to the club last year and Phil Jones, the English defender, as his first choice CB partnership, leaving Lindelof and Chris Smalling as their backups.
However, with Jones and Bailly out injured for more than a couple of weeks now, Mourinho has had to tinker with his defence, in almost every game. He decided to go with a 3-man backline, using Smalling, Lindelof and Marcos Rojo, but he cannot be too happy with the outcome, seeing how Watford managed to create a number of chances with ease.
So it does not come as a surprise that Mourinho is desperate for another CB in the near future and reports claim that Real Madrid man Raphael Varane is right up his wish list.
Reports from Spanish news outfit Don Balon claim that Varane is unhappy with the recognition he is getting at the Bernabeu and that he is ready to listen to offers from another club. They go on to reveal that the defender has been in talks with the Manchester United manager, over a potential move come the end of the season.
Arguably one of the best CBs in Europe at the moment, the French defender is the first choice for his club and country at the moment and is expected to take the mantle from Sergio Ramos at the Spanish capital. He has been exceptional since seeing first team game time regularly and has established himself as the partner for Ramos at the back for Madrid this season.
He has already won most accolades a player can, in his time in Spain and though Real is probably the best club to be at his age, Manchester United have every chance of luring him to Old Trafford. At just 24, he is going to cost the Red Devils a fortune but that has never been a problem for them in the past.
Jones has been decent this season but it is debatable if he is good enough to lead Manchester United in the crunch games in Europe while Smalling seems to have lost his touch and could be sold very soon. Lindelof is still adjusting to time in England and if United can lure Varane to the PL next summer, they can establish one of the best back-lines in Europe.
But do you think Varane will walk out of Bernabeu for Mourinho?
