Manchester United seems finally to be striking gold as they are on the verge of signing Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. A decade after Sir Alex Ferguson first tried to sign the Real Madrid star, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now set to succeed where his legendary predecessor had failed on that front. And, for the Red Devils, the arrival of the 28-year-old could hold the key to winning the Premier League title.
An incredibly wealthy club, arguably the biggest in the entire country, it’s actually taken eight years for them to get their act together behind the scenes since Ferguson retired.
Every summer, up until now, United have moved at a sluggish pace with countless negotiations having been needlessly dragged on and on, with mediocre results.
It would appear that with John Murtough now on board to help relieve the departing Ed Woodward of overseeing transfer activity by himself, United are now finally acting again like the way a genuine superclub should.
The way-overdue arrival of Jadon Sancho was an uplifting, positive step in the right direction and now a 10-year pursuit of Varane is set to bear fruit as United aren’t just signing a world class defender but a serial winner with 18 trophies to his name.
Despite being only aged 28, Varane has already won four Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns and a World Cup throughout his career and still has many more years and definitely lots of spare room available in his personal trophy cabinet for more silverware.
United see the signing of Varane as a major coup, perhaps the ticket to Premier League title glory – a prize they’ve had to live without since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
However, for now, attentions will turn towards his shirt number.
With Phil Jones being allowed to leave for nothing, amid interest from six Premier League clubs, it’s expected the 28-year-old will take the No 4 jersey.
Both Jones and Owen Hargreaves have been plagued by injury issues with that number splashed across their back. With the incoming World Cup winner, hopefully things will be different.
There have been some successful spotters of the number, though.
Gabriel Heinze and Steve Bruce were hits during their time at the Theatre of Dream with that shirt number.
And United will be hopeful the 28-year-old is able to perform just like the duo, instead of Jones and Hargreaves, when the transfer is officially wrapped up.