Manchester United are reportedly willing to make Raphael Varane the most expensive defender in the world as they go all out to sign the Real Madrid centre-back.
Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho was left frustrated by chief executive Ed Woodward's failure to strengthen in that position during the summer transfer window.
Jerome Boateng, Harry Maguire, Yerry Mina and Toby Alderweireld were all rumoured to be on United's radar, but they were unable to get a deal over the line for any of their targets.
According to the London Evening Standard, however, Woodward will give Mourinho the financial backing he is after next year by doubling up on his efforts to bring in Varane, who has worked with the Portuguese in the past.
The France international will likely cost more than £75m - the sum Liverpool paid Southampton to sign Virgil van Dijk earlier this year - and even then Madrid are reluctant to sell.
Alderweireld and AC Milan's Milan Skriniar are said to remain back-up options for United.
Daniel Lewis
