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The future of Raphael Varane continues to be a big deal for the media surrounding Real Madrid, and Manchester United continue to be linked with the defender.

Spain’s sport media have been reporting on the possible move to Old Trafford for months, with English newspapers jumping in more recently.

Varane has a contract with Madrid which expires at the end of next season, and the club are determined to avoid the prospect of letting him leave for free.

There’s a been a renewal offer, report AS, and then a counter offer from those representing the Frenchman, but the two figures are very far apart. That said, if Varane had no intention of staying, his agents wouldn’t have made a counter offer.

AS cover English claims of Manchester United being prepared to pay around €46m, and they once again point out Real Madrid would want something closer to Varane’s market value of €70m.

The Spanish side ‘will gladly accept’ such an offer from Manchester United.

There’s some curiosity in this because the €70m figure has come from Transfermarkt, and AS are open about that.

In the real world, it would seem absurd from Madrid to think they can ask for €70m just because Transfermarkt use that figure, or for Manchester United to agree to pay it on the same basis.

More realistically, the Spanish media are clinging to the €70m because it’s positive for Madrid, and a lower offer, maybe even around €50m, could be successful.