Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been alerted to Raphael Varane's frustrations at Real Madrid. It emerged over the weekend that Varane is unhappy at Real after seeing Raul Albiol move ahead of him in the defensive pecking order this season.

United manager Ferguson was beaten by Real for the former Lens prospect last year and is in the market for a new centre-half after having Torino's Angelo Ogbonna scouted yesterday.