Transfer Talk: Varane linked with Chelsea in multiple red tops

Is Jose about to raid Real to bolster his defensive options?

Raphael Varane has been in Transfer Talk more than anyone not named Mats Hummels or Sami Khedira but today two different papers link him with a Chelsea switch.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has set his sights on Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane as he will be handed a 75m summer transfer kitty.

The Sun is claiming that the Portuguese tactician will get the money from Blues owner Roman Abramovich in an effort to finally end his wait to win the Champions League title for the Londoners next season.

Mourinho's hopes of winning the trophy with a third different club were ended on Wednesday night when 10-man Paris Saint-Germain dumped his side out on the away-goals rule following a 2-2 draw after extra time in the round-of-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge.

The Mirror is suggesting that Mourinho's first mission will be to bolster his central defensive options and that will see him swoop for 30million-plus-rated France international Varane who has struggled for regular first-team action under Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu this season.

Meanwhile, Catalan newspaper Sport is claiming Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is stepping up his efforts to sign Barcelona right-back Dani Alves on a Bosman free transfer.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have both been heavily linked with the 31-year-old, who looks set to leave Barca in the summer, but reports in Spain say it is Liverpool in the driving seat.

The Daily Express is reporting that Southampton are moving quickly to tie down key duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne to new deals which will double their current wages at St Mary's.

Arsene is a long-time fan of Schneiderlin while both Manchester United and Liverpool want England defender Clyne.

But Saints boss Ronald Koeman is keen to keep the pair, who have helped the club join the battle for a top-four Premier League finish this season, with big-money deal extensions.

Finally, Dynamo Kiev boss Sergei Rebrov is hoping to keep Austrian international central defender Aleksandar Dragovic despite strong interest from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The Standard claims the tough-tackling 24-year-old has been identified as the man Wenger wants to bolster his back-line looking ahead to next season, but Rebrov wants to keep him on board.

The 40-year-old, who spent four years as a player with Arsenal's north London rivals Spurs between 2000 and 2004, said: "You are asking about one of the best players in my team and I don't want to lose this player.

"He is a top-class player and I hope he will stay with us."