Raphael Varane to join Harry Kane? Bayern Munich considering shock move for out-of-favour Man Utd defender in January window

Manchester United defender Varane is reported to be the subject of 'internal discussions' at Bayern Munich as the January transfer window nears. Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg suggests the Bundesliga champions are put off because of a £14.9 million ($18.6m) salary, but still consider the Frenchman an 'interesting' option and will continue to monitor his situation. A loan is not thought to be on the table and a proposed transfer fee would be up to £26.3m ($32.9m)

Varane joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United to much fanfare in the summer of 2021, paraded on the Old Trafford pitch before the opening Premier League game of the season against Leeds. But the four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid has often struggled with injuries since moving to England and in recent months has fallen out of favour with current manager Erik ten Hag. Indeed, Varane has only started one Premier League game - the home defeat to Crystal Palace - since going off injured at half-time against Nottingham Forest back in August. Ten Hag has preferred Harry Maguire and even Jonny Evans at times this season.

Kingsley Coman and Dayot Upamecano are the existing French players in the Bayern squad, while Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard left the Allianz Arena in summer. French stars also account for three modern Bayern legends in Franck Ribery, Bixente Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol.

The big challenge for Varane in the short-term is to win back his place at Manchester United. There are six weeks until the January transfer window opens, but the Red Devils letting him go at this point would risk leaving them short defensively in the second half of the season.