Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Raphael Varane, Guillermo Varela Rumours

Real Madrid have seemingly put an end to speculation linking Raphael Varane with a move to Manchester United after handing him the No. 5 shirt—the same number once donned by manager Zinedine Zidane.

That's according to Metro's George Bellshaw, who adds that in all likelihood "a move won’t be happening this summer" following the change in shirt number.

Sports journalist Jonas Giaever noted the significance of the change:

The Frenchman is already well on his way to becoming one of the best defenders in world football and at 23 his prime is still years away—once he combines further experience with the defensive intelligence he already possesses and his impressive pace, he could be the best centre-back in the world.

Here are some of his best moments from last year:

United have already signed Villarreal's Eric Bailly this summer and Chris Smalling had a largely excellent season last year, but as Bellshaw noted, Varane has been a long-term target.

Here is how their stats stacked up last season, per Squawka:

	Varane	Smalling	Bailly
Apps	26	35	25
Minutes	2,182	3,150	2,019
Tackles per 90 mins	0.95	1.11	1.43
Interceptions per 90 mins	1.81	2.77	2.90
Aerial Duels per 90 mins	2.06	3.46	1.56
Clearances per 90 mins	5.32	5.23	5.35
Blocks per 90 mins	0.82	0.54	0.71
Pass Completion	88%	82%	77%

With his shirt number hinting at a prominent role at the club, there's little reason for Varane to leave the Santiago Bernabeu right now.

Meanwhile, Red Devils full-back Guillermo Varela could be set to depart Old Trafford this summer.

Jon Super/Associated Press

According to Julian Franzke and Georg Holzner of German outlet Kicker (h/t the Daily Star's Joel Watson) Eintracht Frankfurt are hopeful of landing him on a loan deal with an option to buy with negotiations at a preliminary stage.

The MailOnline's Joe Bernstein reported the 23-year-old could be among the "first casualties" of manager Jose Mourinho's decision to stick with "a core first-team group of just 24 players," with those outside facing the choice of leaving or training with the reserves—Varela having already been made to do the latter.

Football writer Liam Canning believes the Uruguayan possesses great potential:

However, with Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia and Timothy Fosu-Mensah all potentially ahead of him in the pecking order, garnering significant first-team minutes may be difficult next season.

A loan move could give Varela the chance to prove himself elsewhere, either to make a case for returning to United or kick-starting his career at a different club.