Manchester United are hoping to begin a medical with Raphael Varane on Tuesday as long as he presents a negative COVID-19 test after quarantining since his arrival in England earlier this month.
With a fee already agreed with Real Madrid and the transfer hinging on the final formalities being completed, Varane recently uploaded footage to social media of himself ball juggling in a garden, tagging his location as Manchester.
His arrival was initially held up by a visa application necessitated by Brexit, but that has since been resolved, although manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also later confirmed the Frenchman is isolating as part of general coronavirus protocol after travelling to the UK from Spain.
The Manchester Evening News has reported that United want to get going with the medical as soon as possible. Varane has been in Manchester since last Thursday and will start his medical immediately if he tests negative for COVID-19.
The plan is then for Varane to sign his United contract on Wednesday morning and pose for photographs for his official unveiling. The player himself is also said to want to begin training on Wednesday to give himself a chance to be available when United host Leeds at Old Trafford in their opening game of the Premier League season on Saturday.
To be eligible for that game he has to have been registered by 12pm on Friday. But given the expected time frame that is unlikely to be an issue and he could at least take a place on the bench.
Speaking ahead of United’s final pre-season friendly against Everton, Solskjaer expressed hope that both Varane and Jadon Sancho would be in the matchday squad by the time of Leeds’ visit.
“Hopefully they will be ready to be on the bench,” the boss explained.
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Source : 90min