Manchester United and Arsenal are both closing in on signing new centre-backs ahead of the new season.

United’s chase for Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane looks to have passed a significant hurdle with a £41million fee agreed.

Varane, 28, has one year remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu and reports had suggested he may be using United’s interest as leverage to secure an improved deal in Spain.

But Sky Sports say a fee has now been agreed between the two giants of European football.

According to The Athletic, Varane will sign a four-year deal at Old Trafford and his arrival will be a huge boost for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Meanwhile, Ben White’s switch to Arsenal appears set to take a significant step forward tomorrow. 

Sky Sports believe the centre-back’s medical will take place ahead of a £50m switch from Brighton.

White, 23, impressed in his first season of Premier League football and was rewarded with a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.

All of England's biggest clubs were linked with the defender — but it is Arsenal who have won the battle for his signature.

Spurs and Wolves battle for Ramsey

Tottenham and Wolves are battling it out for former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The Welshman, 30, is set to leave Juventus after a stop-start two-year spell in Turin.

And despite the Welshman spending a decade with their fiercest rivals, Spurs are reportedly keen to add him to new boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.

But Spanish outlet Sport believe they will face competition from Nuno’s former side Wolves.

Juventus, meanwhile, are keen to bring Miralem Pjanic back just one year after they sold him to Barcelona — but they need to offload Ramsey to make it happen.

Though the Wales international has not hit the heights expected of him in Serie A, 65 appearances and six goals cannot be sniffed at. 

Now Spurs want to make him their third signing of the summer following deals for Atalanta stopper Pierluigi Gollini and Sevilla winger Bryan Gil.

In other news

Steve Bruce is pushing to sign Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe as he looks to bolster his Newcastle squad, according to The Telegraph.

Lyon’s Joachim Andersen, who impressed on loan for Fulham last season, is expected to become Crystal Palace’s latest signing, claim the Evening Standard.

Goal believe Napoli and Lazio are two of the clubs keen to end Xherdan Shaqiri’s spell at Liverpool.