Chelsea Transfer News: Raphael Varane Deals Blow to Blues and Manchester United

Raphael Varane has suggested he wishes to remain with Real Madrid until his contract with the club expires in 2020, saying that he is "at ease" with not being a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti's plans.

The young centre-back continues to be linked with a move to either Chelsea or Manchester United, as reported by Charles Perrin of the Express. However, Varane posted a comfortable performance during Los Blancos' 3-0 win over Getafe on Sunday and quickly moved to quash speculation.

"I am happy, the team is at 100 per cent and my contract runs until 2020," said Varane, per Madrid's official website. "I'm at ease. When I'm called on to play, I want to do my best."

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Jose Mourinho—who signed Varane during his time at the Bernabeu—previously outlined him as the "best young defender in the world," reported by The Sun, via Elliott Bretland of the MailOnline. He enjoyed a consistent run of form under Mourinho's watchful eye, which has slowed since the Special One headed back to Chelsea.

Varane has made just 16 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League this campaign, per WhoScored.com. His current run in the side comes at the expense of the injured Pepe, who will most likely slot straight back in when he's ready to return. This is likely to frustrate suitors of Varane, who could offer him a more regular starting spot.

Gary Cahill's recent dip in form has potentially opened the door to an arrival at Stamford Bridge. The Englishman is an aerially dominant, positionally aware rock at best. He proved vulnerable when placed under direct pressure during losses to Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, however, perhaps making a new defensive addition necessary.

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Kurt Zouma is developing quickly, but it would be gutsy to rest Chelsea's chances of silverware on his partnership with John Terry. Varane is an extremely experienced youngster who has already proven he can perform at the World Cup and in major club finals. He plays with a profound air of confidence in his own ability at the age of 21, offering the kind of assurance Mourinho loves to rely on.

ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan recently underlined Varane's quality during his return to the team against Espanyol:

"

Unlike [Sergio] Ramos, who tends to take risks by diving into tackles, the Frenchman bided his time as usual when facing counterattacks, shepherding opponents away from goal and allowing the danger to dissipate on its own.

[...] Varane also had three clearing headers in the first half during Espanyol's short spell of pressure, one of which was powerful enough to almost set up a counter-attack for the home side.

"

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It's fair to say that United need to make defensive adjustments and could certainly use a player of Varane's quality. However, Louis van Gaal recently indicated that he isn't likely to make signings during the transfer window, as reported by Alex Shaw of ESPN FC:

Varane is destined to become one of the world's best and already has the quality to significantly influence matches at the top.

A reunion with Mourinho seems likely at some point, but Madrid will struggle to find a more talented defender in Varane's age group. He has proved over the last couple of weeks how important his performances are to Ancelotti's plans. Despite playing a bit-part role this season, Varane can have a real say in whether the club win silverware in the coming months.