Real Madrid braced for £40m Raphael Varane offer?

Chelsea are ready to test Real Madrid's resolve to hang on to Raphael Varane with a £40m offer for the young French defender, according to reports.

The 21-year-old broke into the Los Blancos side in 2011 following a move from Lens, but has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu this season.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho has now been given the go ahead by the Chelsea hierarchy to launch a £40m bid for Varane, reports The Sun.

Varane is reported to be keen to reunite with Mourinho, who gave the centre-back his Real Madrid debut.