Real Madrid have accepted that defender Raphael Varane is likely to leave the club this summer and they are now waiting for a formal offer from Manchester United.
The central defender is out of contract in the Spanish capital next summer and they club are not willing to risk allowing him to leave as a free agent next year.
Madrid are prepared to cash-in on the Frenchman this summer at a fee which will be dictated by his contractual situation rather than his natural ability.
The 28-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in the world and any deal would be seen as a significant coup for United.
A report from Goal now outlines the latest update to the situation with the Spanish giants now resigning themselves to the player’s departure.
They are said to have made Varane one offer of a contract renewal prior to the European Championships taking place this summer.
The player delayed any response to that proposal as he wanted to concentrate on playing in Euro 2020 with France and that he needed time to think.
Les Bleus were eliminated at the Round of 16 stage over two weeks ago and there has not yet been any update which has led Madrid to think an exit is the likely outcome.
Indeed, the Spanish club are said to be taking it for granted that the Frenchman will leave the club this summer and as such they are keen to facilitate his exit as soon as possible.
They are said to be waiting on a formal offer from Manchester United for the player after talks began taking place between intermediaries.
Varane is scheduled to return to Real Madrid training on 23 July and the club are reportedly keen to finalise his exit before that date.
However, there would be no problems for the defender commencing pre-season with his teammates and boss Carlo Ancelotti - with whom he shares a close relationship.
The player and club share a strong relationship and that will ease any exit process with a speedy outcome desirable for all parties.
Varane’s long-term central defensive partner and club captain Sergio Ramos left the Spanish capital earlier this summer after a 16-year long career and has subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Marcelo is the new club captain; Varane is third in the standings behind Karim Benzema and is just five trophies shy of Paco Gento’s Real Madrid record of 23 titles won with the club.
Despite his status in the club’s dressing room, Varane - who joined Real Madrid from Lens in 2011 - is thought to want to pursue a new challenge and is open to moving to United this summer.
The Premier League side’s interest in the defender stretches back to 2011 and they have identified him as a long-term central defensive partner for Harry Maguire.