Manchester United reportedly made a late attempt to include Paul Pogba in a deal for Raphael Varane.
On Tuesday, United, having wrapped up a £73 million move for Jadon Sancho, announced they had reached an agreement with Real Madrid for Varane.
he Frenchman will become a United player should he complete a medical along with the final terms. Negotiations went fairly smoothly and United are said to be paying an initial fee of £34 million – although add-ons could take it to £42 million.
Varane is poised to fly to Manchester this week and sign a four-year contract.
𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗿, 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 👋
We have agreed a deal in principle for the transfer of @RaphaelVarane to United! 🔴⚪️⚫️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 27, 2021
But according to journalist Ian McGarry, as per the Daily Express, United rather cheekily proposed the possibility of a swap deal involving Pogba.
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Varane’s compatriot has been a Real target for a long time and he too is in the final year of his contract – with it looking unlikely that he will pen an extension.
Speaking on ‘The Transfer Window’ podcast, McGarry revealed: “The Transfer Window has learnt that during the conversations in Glasgow between representatives of Madrid and Manchester United with regards to Raphael Varane’s transfer, Pogba was offered as part of the deal in order, again, to bring down the transfer fee or indeed eliminate the transfer fee, given that it’s €50m.
“You would have to expect that Pogba’s value with one year left on his contract would be around that mark, if not even maybe less.
“It would depend how much Madrid valued trying to recruit the player.”
A according to the Canal Supporters, World Cup winner Pogba has rejected an offer from United and the club risk losing him for free next summer in a repeat scenario from 2012.
The club have apparently set a £50 million transfer fee for Pogba, who is believed to be close to heading back to his native France with PSG.