United on French defender

Manchester United and Newcastle are ready to take of advantage of RC Lens' relegation and snap up defender Raphael Varane.

The Frenchman broke into the Lens first team this season and was one of their stand-out performers in a campaign that ended in relegation from Ligue A this weekend.

French magazine L'Sport claims Sir Alex Ferguson and Alan Pardew, along with several other European clubs, are keen on acquiring the £9m rated centre-back.

They also quote Varane as saying: "I hope a meeting with the club will happen next week and we can discuss the situation."

The 18-year-old has represented France at both under-18 and under-21 level and made 19 appearances in Lens' doomed campaign this season.