Fresh from qualifying for the FA Cup quarter-final, Manchester United appears ready to put some summer-transfer plans into action. Chief among those plans is a potential move for Real Madrid‘s touted young centre-back Raphael Varane.

The Red Devils will also target precocious Brazilian forward Kenedy. He’s been dubbed the “new Neymar” by some.

But it’s interest in Varane that should have United fans most excited. He’s reportedly “unsettled” as he struggles for playing time in the Spanish capital, according to Daily Mirror reporter John Cross, who notes both United and Chelsea are watching the situation.

As a combative and ultra-athletic young defender, he’s exactly the kind of star presence at the back United need. Varane is widely considered one of the brightest talents at his position in Europe.

Oddly enough though, one man who doesn’t seem to share that view is Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach still prefers to trust veteran pairing Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

It doesn’t help that whenever Varane has seen the pitch, he’s hardly done much to change Ancelotti’s mind. His latest woes came during Los Merengues’ 4-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Varane’s place as a regular on the bench naturally has some of Europe’s best maintaining an interest. But it’s United’s Premier League rival Chelsea who could have the inside track.

After all, it was Blues boss Jose Mourinho who gave Varane his chance in Madrid. The Stamford Bridge outfit has recently been linked with a £35 million summer bid for the 21-year-old, per Daily Express reporter Tony Banks.

United can certainly compete with that level of fiscal outlay. But manager Louis van Gaal would also have to be able to offer the lure of UEFA Champions League football.

As a budding young star, Varane fits the template for the kind of players Van Gaal wants to build his new-look United squad around.

So does youthful South American ace Kenedy. United are eager to beat Serie A side Inter Milan to a deal worth as much as £5 million for the Fluminense sensation, per Daily Star reporter Jonathan Green.

He notes how United already have the inside track with the Rio de Janeiro club, thanks to the deal to sign Fabio and Rafael Da Silva back in 2007. But United’s connection may be deeper still.

A Sport Witness report traced the original source of the Kenedy rumour to a Sambafoot article by Frederic Fausser, citing an unnamed Fluminense Youth trainer. Sport Witness also claims the presence of Marcelo Teixeira, who still works with United’s Brazilian delegation, as a key factor in this deal.

Van Gaal has made giving young talent a chance a focus of his rebuilding project at Old Trafford. He’s offered opportunities to defenders Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, along with striker James Wilson.

United also signed 20-year-old Sadiq El Fitouri and 21-year-old Andy Kellett during the winter-transfer window. Adding Kenedy to the ranks would give Van Gaal another enticing prospect to develop.

But it’s Varane who’d have more immediate value. United have failed to adequately replace Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.

Varane could be the building block the Red Devils need. Playing at a club with more belief in his overall ability would surely help the Frenchman reach his undoubted potential.

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