Arsenal great Ray Parlour believes that Raphael Varane could have a similar impact on Manchester United’s defence as Ruben Dias had at Manchester City.
After a slow start to the summer, United’s transfer window has burst into life following the official unveiling of winger Jadon Sancho and reaching a deal with Real Madrid for Varane.
United have agreed a fee of just under €50million for the experienced centre-back and all that remains is for Varane to undergo a medical and sign paperwork.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been targeting a world-class defender to partner Harry Maguire this summer and Parlour believes the 28-year-old’s arrival will give United a massive upgrade, just like their neighbours got last summer.
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City splashed big money to bring Dias to the Etihad but it was worth every penny as the Portuguese instantly made the Blues a more solid outfit, helped them regain their Premier League title and reach the Champions League final for the first time.
If Varane can settle as well and as quickly as Dias did, then Parlour thinks he could have the same impact at Old Trafford.
“Man City were so good defensively last year that’s what they really improved on,” he told talkSPORT. “Ruben Dias coming in, but you never know what sort of situation you’re going to have with a player, whether he settles, but he settled so well in the Premier League. John Stones got better alongside him.
“So if Varane could be very similar to how Ruben Dias settled into the Premier League then they’ve got a fantastic defence with the personnel they’ve got.
“That was the big improvement last year for Man City was the back four. John Stones and Ruben Dias really played well together, they way they closed it down they had a great understanding.
“If Manchester United can get that right as well, because Harry Maguire doesn’t miss many games, if he’s fit he plays, he had a little injury towards the end of the year but he played every single game before that. If you can put him and Varane together they’d be working on a good partnership there and it certainly gives United a massive upgrade on what they had there before.”
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