Manchester United are “not flush with cash” and there are “doubts” over whether they will be able to afford Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to The Athletic‘s Laurie Whitwell.

The Red Devils have managed to successfully negotiate a deal to sign Jadon Sancho for €85m (£73m) but they have an agreement in place to pay the fee in instalments of €17m (£14.5m) over five years, which suggests they are working within financial limitations:

Feeling of vindication at #MUFC for patience over Jadon Sancho.

€35m saving on original fee + payments spread across 5 years: a good deal.

Solskjaer in recruitment meeting hours after 5am return from EL final. Woodward then led talks.

Full details ⬇️https://t.co/8LyQ3PfnMv

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) July 1, 2021

Whether that will affect a deal for Varane, we shall have to wait and see. The France international’s asking price ranges from €45m to €70m depending on what story you read.

Reports in Spain have said that United are already in advanced talks to sign the centre-back but Whitwell’s comments suggest that is not the case at the moment.

Whether this could allow the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea to come in and make their move for Varane, it remains to be seen, but appears that the centre-back’s transfer to Old Trafford is far from a foregone conclusion.