Manchester United were willing to spend £100m on World Cup winner

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward was willing to make Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane the most expensive defender of all-time this summer, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Varane has been heavily linked with a move to United in recent years but the Red Devils have never come close to prising the France international away from Madrid.

Woodward had a brief chat with Madrid president Florentino Perez earlier this summer and mentioned Varane but nothing came from those talks.

United boss Jose Mourinho was desperate to sign a new centre-back this summer but Woodward overruled the Portuguese and refused to land one of his four main targets.

Woodward was unwilling to spend over the odds to land a defender that would not represent a significant upgrade on what United already have.

Leicester were demanding United make Harry Maguire one of the most expensive defenders of all-time, while Woodward was weary of signing another injury-prone player from Bayern Munich after Mourinho asked for Jerome Boateng.

United went off the idea of signing Yerry Mina from Barcelona due to extraordinary agent fees, while 29-year-old Toby Alderweireld was not valued at £60m when he is available for £25m next summer.

Varane is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world but is unlikely to leave Madrid anytime soon, even though United are willing to break the bank for his services.

Only Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric (45) played more accurate long balls than Varane (44) of all outfielders at the 2018 World Cup.