Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is weighing up a bid for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. The Daily Express says while Real are reluctant to sell a player they see as a pillar of their team in the future, reports in Spain suggest United are preparing to test their resolve.

Real would take £30 million to sell the Frenchman.

Varane recently hit out at suggestions that he was not happy fighting for his place at the Bernabeu, saying: "That is a lie, I always say the same thing.

"Competition is important for the team to improve. I like the competition and anything else is lies.

"It is from a translation that was not good."