Manchester United have been given a huge boost in their pursuit of Raphael Varane with Real Madrid increasingly resigned to losing the Frenchman this summer, according to reports.
The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the Madrid centre back - whose contract expires at the Bernabeu next summer - as they seek a reliable partner for Harry Maguire in the heart of defence.
And according to The Athletic, the Spanish giants are under a clear impression that Varane wants a new challenge after he rejected an offer of a two-year extension to his contract, with his representatives informing Madrid's hierarchy of his wishes.