Real Madrid are ready to offer French defender Raphael Varane in exchange for Manchester United's David De Gea, Spanish outlet Don Balon reports.

What's the word?

Real Madrid's long-term desire to bring David De Gea to the Spanish capital is no secret and the La Liga leaders could have finally found a way to make a deal happen, after sensationally seeing a deal collapse for the goalkeeper in 2015.

The deal two-years ago would have seen Keylor Navas move to Manchester United as a like-for-like replacement but there is no chance of that deal being reignited, which means Real president Florentino Perez has to find another avenue.

Varane is a key-player in Zinedine Zidane's set-up but Perez could overrule his manager and use the French defender as makeweight in a De Gea deal, with Real Madrid eyeing Paris Saint-Germain ace Marquinhos as a replacement.

Why Varane?

During his time at Real Madrid, Raphael Varane was a favourite of Jose Mourinho's and was signed in 2011, before being brought through the ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu. Now, the 23-year-old has ousted Pepe from Real's defence and has created a solid partnership with Sergio Ramos.

Florentino Perez clearly thinks he's expendable though and Manchester United would be expected to raise an interest in the French defender if his signature was to become available. As such, Real are ready to use Mourinho's admiration for the player to secure their own target.

Losing David De Gea would be a bitter blow for Manchester United, and isn't likely to be considered, but if the Spaniard was to push for an exit United may find themselves backed into a corner- but landing Varane as part of a deal would work in their favour.

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