Chelsea are one of several sides interested in Real Madrid center-back Raphael Varane, with head coach Thomas Tuchel rumored to be “desperate” to sign the Frenchman.
The Blues began planning to sign a new center-back long before Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge, and despite significant improvements at the back in recent months, adding a new defender is still a high defender.
Varane’s contract expires Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Sport Bild’s Christian Falk claimed earlier in April that Varane was Chelsea’s top goal and that Mundo Deportivo has taken a stand – which goes so far as to suggest signing Varane is Chelsea’s tap race.
PSG and Manchester United are both perceived as important, but it is Chelsea who are said to push hardest – and although it is relatively feasible, here the story is a bit confusing.
According to this report, Chelsea are prepared to pay as much as 61 million pounds for him.
Tuchel is said to be investing in Varane | Pool / Getty Images
At that price tag, you need to start asking questions. Sure, Varane is a good defender, but as a 28-year-old with one year left on his contract, it’s hard to see Chelsea break the bank. Just because Real did it for Eden Hazard does not mean that the Blues are anxious to regain the favor.
There have been plenty of reports in the English media about Chelsea’s interest in Bayern Munich center-back Niklas Sule, whose price tag of just over £ 20 million is much more reasonable for a player entering the last 12 months of his deal.
These two are by no means the only options being considered at Chelsea. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Gladbach’s Matthias Ginter have all been mentioned, as has the expensive Jose Maria Gimenez from Atletico Madrid. If you want an alternative on the left, Malmö kid Anel Ahmedhodzic is also on the radar.
Varane is in demand by a number of top sites | Fran Santiago / Getty Images
Everything can come down to money. 90min understands that Chelsea have as good a chance as anyone to get Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, whose price tag is over 100 million pounds, while Inter forward Romelu Lukaku is another expensive goal.
If Chelsea take out £ 100m on either striker, there may not be much left in the back to drive a midfielder, which is why £ 20m on Sule seems much more likely than £ 61m on Varane.
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