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Varane deal 'a sign of Man Utd's aims'
Manchester United are unlikely to pursue a transfer for Declan Rice this summer but their budget has not been completely depleted by the arrivals of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, according to reports.
Man Utd are unlikely to pursue a Declan Rice transfer (Image: GETTY)
Solskjaer is understood to still want more deals and a midfielder is high on his agenda.
United have been linked with West Ham star Rice but will likely move on to other targets due to the Hammers’ eye-watering valuation of the 22-year-old, according to Goal.
West Ham are believed to want around £80m for Rice, with the valuation partially justified by his excellent form for England at Euro 2020.
Solskjaer wants a midfielder to accompany his defensive and attacking additions but will not pursue Rice.
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The 47-year-old will instead ask United’s transfer hierarchy to switch their attention to other targets.
The report continues that there is interest in Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier but United want to pay far less than the Spanish club’s £35m valuation.
United feel that competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka would raise his game to the next level, in the same way that Alex Telles’s arrival last summer boosted Luke Shaw’s performances.
However, the potential departure of Paul Pogba could lead to United putting all their efforts into signing a midfield replacement.
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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants further transfer business (Image: GETTY)
Pogba has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Old Trafford and appears unlikely to sign fresh terms.
United could look to sell the Frenchman this summer to avoid losing him for free next year.
The 28-year-old will be free to agree a deal with a foreign club in January ahead of a move in July 2022.
United are widely believed to feel that they can at least recoup some of the £86m they paid Juventus for Pogba in 2016 and have told interested clubs that they will need to stump up around £60m.