In a recent report, ABC has claimed that Chelsea are among several clubs hoping to land Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane this summer. It is understood that the Blues will have to rival Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of the French centre-half during this summer transfer window (via ABC).
Varane’s Solid Form At The Spanish Capital Last Season
Varane had another solid campaign with the Madrid giants as he produced a run of consistent displays for them over the past ten months. The 28-year-old participated in 41 matches for the Spanish outfit last season, netting two goals and picking up four yellow cards on all fronts.
The French talent has continued to prove his worth as a valuable contributor in central defence after he averaged 0.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 3.5 clearances per 90 minutes in the previous La Liga campaign. He has even distributed possession with conviction based on his pass completion rate of 89.6% in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
Varane is currently playing at his prime and would be a massive coup for any of his potential suitors, including the Blues, this summer. At 28, he still has plenty of time left in his locker to play at the top of his game, so Thomas Tuchel can expect to get the best out of him if he can seal a move for the player in this off-season.
Will Varane Be The Right Choice For The Blues This Summer?
Varane has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in European football. He can time his tackles well to make some crucial interceptions for his side. The French sensation has outstanding defensive awareness that allows him to get into the right positions to deal with the danger when required. He is a tidy passer of the ball as well and can take his game to another level when he is playing in Europe.
Hence, Varane will be a great choice for the current UEFA Champions League holders as he will add a lot of quality to Tuchel’s starting XI at Stamford Bridge. The Real Madrid star has what it takes to secure regular first-team football for the West London outfit and could help them maintain their stranglehold in European football in the coming seasons.
Varane has just got over a year left to run on his Madrid contract, so Los Blancos president Florentino Perez will have to consider letting him go on a cut-price fee this summer rather than lose him as a free agent next year. Therefore, Chelsea are in a great position to land him on a bargain fee and boost their defensive options ahead of the new season. All in all, recruiting Varane will be a shrewd move for the Blues as long as they manage to win the race for him during this summer transfer period.
