Former Chelsea player Glen Johnson is advocating for the Blues to acquire Raphael Varane from Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Manchester United decided not to activate an extension in Varane’s contract in the middle of this season.
The French defender, who transferred to the Red Devils from Real Madrid in 2024, could depart Old Trafford as a free agent this summer.
Varane is currently out of action due to an injury and there have been talks about a potential return to Real Madrid in the summer.
However, Johnson believes it would be a beneficial move for Mauricio Pochettino’s team to bring the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge, emphasizing that it could be a valuable deal for the club based in west London.
“Talented players like him are rare, especially on a free transfer,” Johnson remarked to Betfred when discussing Chelsea’s interest in Varane.
“I acknowledge that he may not be the same Varane as he was three or four years ago, but he remains a highly skilled player.”
He further commented, “Despite his injury setbacks, acquiring him for free offsets any concerns about playing time. Even if he only features in 40% of matches, signing him for free still represents a good deal.”
“If there’s an opportunity to sign Varane without a transfer fee and he only plays in half the games, I still view it as a favorable transaction.”