The Portuguese coach is a huge admirer of Varane.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dropped a huge hint that he will try and sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane in the summer.
The 51-year-old bought the young Frenchman to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu from Lens in the summer of 2011 for £8m and since then Varane has developed into a top-class star.
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Despite still only being 20-years-old the centre-back is already recognised by many as one of the best in his position in the world – a sentiment that Mourinho agrees with.
“I think he is the best young central defender in the world. Already I think he’s the best,” the Portuguese coach was quoted by the Sun.
“A young player must be somebody who plays in the World Cup for the first time.
“These are players like Hazard, Neymar and Rafa Varane. Maybe I forget some others.”
Varane has played 57 matches for Los Merengues since arriving in the Spanish capital, a total that would probably be more had the France international’s current season have been greatly affected by a knee injury that kept the defensive ace out of action until January 2014.
The Blues are likely to be looking for recruitment at the back in the summer, with captain John Terry approaching his 34th birthday and David Luiz strongly linked by the Telegraph with a switch to Barcelona to replace departing skipper Carles Puyol.
The west London club have already signed another young Frenchman in Kurt Zouma in the January transfer window and Mourinho may seem the duo as the ideal partnership for the long-term.
However, if Varane is to move from Madrid it would take a large offer from the Premier League side, as the starlet’s valuation has probably trebled since Los Blancos signed him.
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