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Manchester United are moving closer to sealing a deal for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane to add to their stunning swoop of Jadon Sancho. 

The Red Devils are eyeing a handful of top signings to overhaul their squad this summer after finishing the last campaign trophyless - and, as reported by Sportsmail, the club have agreed a deal to sign Dortmund star Sancho for £73m, with the English winger set to complete the move after Euro 2020.

Sancho was the primary target of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the club are also close to finalising a deal for the other player at the top of his wishlist in Varane, according to ESPN - who claim United have received encouragement over a transfer.

Man United are reportedly close to finalising an agreement with Madrid for Raphael Varane 

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to strengthen his defence this summer

Defence has been an area that United are hoping to bolster, with Solskjaer seeking a reliable partner to captain Harry Maguire at centre-back, and Varane would come as a glamorous arrival having won four Champions League titles and the World Cup with France.

United believe Madrid are now ready to negotiate a deal for Varane, whose deal expires next summer, and are confident he could be available for around £43m, the report adds.

Los Blancos had initially valued him at around £60m, a price that had put United off, but with the club struggling financially amid the Covid pandemic, they are willing to lower their asking price in order to help new boss Carlo Ancelotti rebuild, it claims.

United have already agreed a £72.9million deal with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho

Earlier this year Sportsmail reported that United were chasing Varane and hoping to drive down Madrid's hefty price tag. 

Easing the burden of Varane's possible departure is the arrival of defender David Alaba on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. The Austrian spent 12 years with the Bavarian side and his top-level experience will be comforting should the club end up selling the 28-year-old.

Stalwart Sergio Ramos has also left the club this summer, leaving Eder Militao and Nacho are the other senior centre-backs alongside Alaba.

Varane is said to have rejected Madrid's offer of a new deal last week, with the player is reportedly unhappy that Real chose to negotiate with Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez and Ramos ahead of him.

Paris Saint-Germain are also interested but the defender is said to favour a move to England. Varane has won three LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies and four FIFA Club World Cups with the Spanish giants.

The club have targeted Varane as they look for a top class centre-back ahead of next season

The defender made 41 appearances in all competitions last season as Real finished second in LaLiga and were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-final. 

United fans will be excited by the prospect of having both Varane and Sancho, who looks set to finally become a Manchester United player after a long saga of talks with Dortmund that saw them hold out for £108m last summer.

The Bundesliga outfit are understood to have accepted United’s third offer of this window which will see them pay the £72.9m – believed to be spread over four years, with no further add-ons. 

United's transfer business is progressing well after finally making progress on Sancho 

Sancho will sign a five-year deal at United when his Euro 2020 campaign with England ends

Sancho will sign a five-year deal that runs until 2026 and undergo a medical at the end of the Euros, with his club lowering their demands after he entered the final two years of his contract. 

The 21-year-old has become one of the most sought-after talents in world football after a superb few seasons in Germany. 

Having started his career at Manchester City, he has rebuilt himself with Dortmund, scoring 50 goals and providing 64 assists in 137 appearances and is seen as the missing puzzle piece to United's team on the right flank.