As Chelsea prepare for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid, an interesting subplot has emerged.
The latest reports in Spain suggest the Blues are in pole position to sign long-serving Los Blancos defender Raphael Varane, who they will likely line up against at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
While Varane has been a target for Manchester United for much of the season, Chelsea are understood to have leapfrogged the Red Devils in the chase for the World Cup winner.
But the news is less promising regarding AC Milan shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon, with fresh reports claiming the Italian will pen a new deal at San Siro.
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