Manchester United are closer to reaching an agreement of around €50m (£42.7m) for the signing of Real Madrid defender, Raphaël Varane.

UK Guardian reported that 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.

Sky Sports reports that Varane’s representatives were continuing to finalise personal terms with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and the Frenchman is expected to sign a four-year contract at United.

Meanwhile, popular transfer specialist, Fabrizio Romano, reported on Monday that an “agreement is almost done between Man Utd and Real Madrid, just final details to be completed and then paperwork time. It’s a “matter of hours or days,” he tweeted.

Varane 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.

If United do secure his services, 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.