Real Madrid Transfer News: Raphael Varane Exit Fee Reportedly Revealed

Real Madrid are allegedly willing to accept offers "in the region of £19 million" for Raphael Varane.

This minimal figure is reported by David Wright of the Daily Express, who suggests the French centre-back's limited playing time could see him leave the Bernabeu. Chelsea and Manchester United are said to be monitoring the player ahead of the January transfer window.

Jose Mourinho is a known admirer of the player he signed for Los Blancos in 2011, calling him the "best central defender in the world" earlier in the year. The Portuguese boss is said to be considering letting Andre Schurrle leave when the winter market opens, according to Rob Beasley of The Sun (h/t ESPN FC), perhaps in an attempt to free up funds and squad space for a new acquisition.

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Louis van Gaal is reported to be considering Anderson for departure, per Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail, allowing him to spend extra cash at the turn of the year. United's defence have struggled this season and desperately need a commanding leader to usher the likes of Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling toward decent form.

Mourinho recently suggested Varane had "one foot" at United before he moved to Madrid, per Telefoot (h/t Charlie Eccleshare of the Daily Mail). If the defender becomes available, it's highly unlikely Mourinho would allow him to finally join United without putting up a fight for his signature.

Varane is still developing, but he has the potential to be one of the world's greatest players. At 21 years old, he needs to be playing regularly, something which isn't happening at Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti has started the youngster just three times in La Liga this season, per WhoScored.com, as Pepe and Sergio Ramos maintain their partnership at the back.

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Even so, Varane recently posted two extremely impressive Champions League performances against Liverpool. The tall defender averages 1.6 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and four clearances each match—also recorded by WhoScored.com—all of which is made possible by his intelligent positioning. 

He instinctively reads the game and applies himself to each task, as highlighted in pressure situations such as the Champions League final and World Cup with France. Football Vines tweeted an example of his acceleration and tackling prowess:

"

Take a bow Rafa Varane. What a tackle! http://t.co/LOyLkhDp6I

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) November 7, 2014"

Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane labelled Varane "fast, intelligent" and a "big player" when he first arrived in the Spanish capital. This has proven to be true, yet the defender is unable to maintain a place in Ancelotti's lineup.

Even so, £19 million appears extremely cheap when you consider the player's age and potential. It's difficult to gauge exactly what is going to happen with Madrid's stars—few would have predicted Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso's summer exits after their tremendous seasons—but a potential transfer at this cost would present a major bargain.

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Varane is suited to the physicality of the Premier League and possesses the technical skills to shine in England. Consistent playing time would undoubtedly speed up his development process and could start to unearth the special star many expect.

Many Madrid supporters are sure to believe Varane should be in the first team, while many more are likely to believe it if an extended run stops the starlet from moving to abroad.