Chelsea Transfer News: Raphael Varane Move Blocked, Latest Adrien Rabiot Rumours

New Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez intends to make Raphael Varane a big part of his team next season, closing the door on a potential transfer to Chelsea during the summer window, according to the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.

The 22-year-old wasn't a full-time starter under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, fuelling rumours he could prefer a move away from the Spanish capital during the summer. The Blues have been talked about as a potential destination ever since Jose Mourinho took charge of the club, and according to Marca's J. L. Calderon, Manchester United are also interested:

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson recently looked at rumours of a centre-back arriving at Stamford Bridge during the summer, and he believed a transfer for Varane would be difficult given his obvious potential and the fact Real have little reason to sell:

His role at the club gave Chelsea fans hope, however, as Sergio Ramos and Pepe have been the preferred starting duo for some time now and figure to remain ahead of the France international in the pecking order for the foreseeable future.

Varane could force Los Blancos' hand by openly demanding a transfer, but such a scenario seems unlikely. Pepe and Ramos may be the designated starters, but it's not as if Varane isn't receiving consistent minutes with the club, via Sport Witness:

The young defender burst onto the international scene under Mourinho, displaying incredible talent and potential, and the prospect of once again working under the Portuguese manager would be enticing.

But it's not as if Varane has blossomed into a world-class centre-back since then. Varane is a fantastic young defender with world-class potential, but his recent performances have been far from impressive.

He was downright shocking in a recent friendly against Albania with France, receiving the lowest grade on the pitch by French newspaper L'Equipe. Sport Witness noticed the grading and couldn't help but agree:

Varane's value lies in his potential, which is vast, and he probably would be a starter in the centre of Chelsea's defence from the moment he arrived, pushing Gary Cahill out of the squad.

But he would require an enormous investment from the Blues, and even then, it might not be enough to convince Los Blancos to sell. A move for Varane remains unlikely, and if Mourinho wants to add to his defensive depth, he will have to turn elsewhere.

Adrien Rabiot's Mother Puts Blues on High Alert

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

We all assumed the soap opera surrounding Adrien Rabiot and his future with Paris Saint-Germain was over when he signed a new deal last season, but in a not-so-shocking turn of events, it now seems the talented midfielder is back on the market.

Speaking to Canal Supporters (h/t Daily Express' Ben Jefferson), Rabiot's mother Veronique voiced her displeasure with Les Parisiens and confirmed her son has asked for a transfer:

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Adrien loves and is attached to PSG, it is the club of his heart. He wants to have a career here. But it's not possible. Are PSG trying to tarnish Adrien because we have asked for a transfer? If Adrien leaves PSG, he is not leaving for the sake of leaving, he is leaving in order to play.

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The 20-year-old midfielder, who was once part of Manchester City's youth setup but left after only a few months, has seen his playing time at the Parc des Princes rise steadily, but he remains behind the likes of Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta in the pecking order.

His mother acts as his agent, and as explained by Goal's Robin Bairner, she's not exactly well-liked by the club, the French media or anyone who tries to have a say in his future:

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Standing over six feet tall, the midfielder is already built for first-team football, with his mop of curly hair serving to make him look an even larger and more intimidating presence on the field. Off it, though, it is his mother Veronique who calls the shots and it would seem that she has decided that staying in Paris is no longer in her son's best interests.

[...] Rabiot has already departed PSG once previously and even though it was only on loan to Toulouse in the winter of 2013, his temporary departure earned the youngster and his mother criticism in the press for perceived impatience.

“If the supporters were parents, they would understand,” Veronique told Chronofoot.

In 2008, Rabiot was signed to the Manchester City youth academy on a six-year deal that should have seen him turn professional with the Premier League club when the youngster turned 17. It took only six months for this arrangement to be severed, though, with rumours suggesting that Veronique was angry with the English club’s treatment of her boy.

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Per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, little has changed in the past few months:

Rabiot is a supremely gifted midfielder who is being brought along slowly by PSG, but that's not good enough for his entourage. He played both Champions League legs against Barcelona, yet his mother lashed out in the press when he didn't make the squad for the Coupe de France final, per Johnson.

If a starting spot in the Premier League is what he's after―his mother indicated as much in the interview, per Jefferson―Stamford Bridge is not the place to go. For all of his talent, he won't replace Cesc Fabregas in the starting XI, and he's clearly unwilling to bide his time with the reserves or on the bench.

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