Manchester United are set to explore the possibility of tempting Raphael Varane away from Real Madrid this summer.
Jose Mourinho has already bolstered his defence with the £25m signing of Eric Bailly from Villarreal.
But with only 40 senior appearances under his belt, doubts remain about whether the Ivory Coast centre-back is ready to be considered as first-choice ahead of his first season in the Premier League.
It has led United to consider Varane, as well as Everton’s John Stones and Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci as possible partners for Chris Smalling at the heart of the defence.
Interest in Aymeric Laporte would appear to be dead in the water after the Frenchman signed a new four-year contract at Athletic Bilbao this week.
United will hope to exploit doubt in Varane’s mind about his future at Real Madrid.
The 23-year-old had fallen behind Pepe in the pecking order at the Bernabeu before a hamstring injury ruled him out of Euro 2016.
Reports in Marca, the Spanish newspaper with close ties to Real Madrid, suggest coach Zinedine Zidane is keen to tie down his compatriot with a new long-term contract.
But they admit Varane could be convinced to move to Old Trafford to work with his former boss Mourinho with the promise of regular first-team football.
The former Lens defender started just 14 of Real’s 34 games between December and May last season.