Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Raphael Varane, Matteo Darmian Rumours

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly still hoping to be reunited with Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, while Inter Milan are said to be still in the running to land Matteo Darmian.

According to Marca (h/t Sport Witness), United have maintained an interest in Varane for quite some time, and Mourinho, who launched his career in Madrid, would love to bring the France international to Old Trafford.

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The centre-back has faced a handful of difficult years since suffering a knee injury in the 2012-13 campaign, and per the report, a big-money transfer deal was an option for Los Blancos for a while.

Varane has rediscovered his best form in the 2016-17 season, however, highlighted by an excellent showing in the 2-2 draw in the UEFA Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.

David Cartlidge of beIN Sports thought he desperately needed a performance like that:

The 23-year-old has tantalising potential, which has been obvious since he made his debut for Los Blancos in 2011. But after his major knee injury, consistency became an issue, and the presence of veteran defenders Pepe and Sergio Ramos didn't help matters.

Varane spent more time on the bench than he would have liked, and when he did play, he often seemed too careful. He produced plenty of excellent performances, as you can see in the video below, but he wasn't as consistently great as his reputation would suggest:

Transfer speculation has been almost constant for years, as Pepe and Ramos continue as Real's preferred pairing in the heart of defence.

Antonio Romero of AS believes now is the time for Varane to prove to Real he can consistently be the dominant defender they want him to be:

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The Varane on display in Dortmund has the potential to be the leader of Real’s back four for several years but he has to bring out the best in himself with greater frequency and authority. He has to demonstrate that his knee and his head are prepared to play two demanding games a week.

When he plays like he did in Germany Varane appears impregnable, but then too much time passes with no further headlines. That he is a wonderful player is not in doubt; the question is whether he wants to be a good defender who passed through Madrid leaving behind some quality performances or if he wants to become the heartbeat of the Real defence.

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In Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly, United have found a defensive duo that could serve the club well for years, but Mourinho has long been a fan of Varane, so it's easy to see why he would like to work with the Frenchman again.

But with Varane starting to make good on his huge potential, Real may be less inclined to sell now than they have been for the last few years. Sport Witness sees the Red Devils' chances of landing the defender as "very slim," and it's hard to disagree.

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Elsewhere, Calciomercato's Edo Dalmonte reported Inter are still lacking in the full-back areas and could turn their attention toward Darmian once again, with United rejecting a loan offer during the summer.

The 26-year-old has barely seen the pitch for United this season, and a return to Italy at some point in the near future seems likely. Antonio Valencia has been the preferred option on the right side of United's defence, and Mourinho is yet to give any indication he has any plans for the Italian.

ESPN FC's Jack Lang believes confidence is Darmian's main issue:

The former Torino man had a great start to his United career, standing out as one of the team's top players in his first matches under then-manager Louis van Gaal, but he crashed down to earth after his bright start and never recovered.

His performances for the Italy national team during UEFA Euro 2016 were impressive, and there's reason to believe he could return to that form with a change of scenery. Clubs will continue to monitor the situation, with a move in January or next summer likely.