Manchester United agree £42m fee for Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane

Manchester United have agreed a fee for the Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane with the signing expected to be completed next week.

The 28-year-old Frenchman has only one year left on his contract and Real are open to letting him leave this summer for a fee rather than on a free transfer next year. Talks have been held over the last week and the €50m (£42.7m) fee has now been agreed with a medical planned in the coming days.

Varane, who will sign a four-year contract with an option for another 12 months at United, left Lens in 2011 and has helped bring several trophies to the Bernabéu, including four Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. He has played 79 times for France and was part of the side that won the 2018 World Cup.

When United complete the deal, Varane will be their third acquisition of the summer. Last week, Jadon Sancho completed his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund, and they have also re-signed the goalkeeper Tom Heaton, following his departure from Burnley.