However, Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu will be forced to consider other options following a serious injury sustained by a reported transfer target at the weekend.
As for Varane, the French superstar has basically won it all at Real Madrid and the World Cup winner would add class and experience at United alongside Harry Maguire.
There is also a sell-on clause inserted by Brighton, one undisclosed, while the contract is thought to be a four-year deal with the option of extending that for another 12 months.