Premier League side Chelsea are expected to make an offer of 54 million euros for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports in the British press.
Many of the Sunday papers, including the Sun, said Jose Mourinho will raid his former club this summer to take the Frenchman to west London. It was the Portuguese who signed Varane from Lens in 2011 and the pair remain close.
With Pepe expected to sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2018, the 21-year-old centre back may decide the time is right to call time on his career in La Liga and make the move to England.
He impressed many in his first year with Los Blancos but for 18 months after that he was plagued by a number of injuries. Having recovered though, Varane was hopeful of dislodging either Pepe or Sergio Ramos and establishing himself as in important part of the first team at the 10-time Champions League winners.
Those hopes have failed to materialise and Varane has thought about leaving in the past, with the Blues having a long-term interest in him. With the champions-elect looking for a long-term successor to John Terry, Mourinho may step up his efforts this summer to allow the pair a season in London for the captain to show Varane the ropes before his is expected to hang up his boots.
Real Madrid should keep these players: Raphael Varane,sergio Ramos, Lucas Silva and Asier Illarramendi. Also should consider to strength the team by finding a new centre back from the proposed list; Eder Balanta, Khalidou Koulibaly, Aymeric Laporte, Tony Jantschke.
About defending midfielders from list; William Carvalho, christoph Kramer. while one stricker from list; Falcao, Sergio Aguero, Javier Pastore or return Alvaro Morata.
Goalkeeper; Kiko Casilla, Hugo Lloris, David de Gea and Bernd Leno.
Proposed players to get out of the team are Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira, Javier Hernandez, Raul Albiol, Iker Casillas and Alvaro Arbeloa.