Manchester United, Leeds United's first Premier League opponents and fierce rivals, have experienced a setback in their attempt to complete the purchase of Raphael Varane.
Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer had hoped that the 28-year-old would have landed in the nation on Monday, where he would have to quarantine before going to the club's training field to conduct his physical and sign his new contract, officially completing the £43 million transfer.
However, according to the Telegraph, there has been a reported hold-up with his visa, which means he is yet to board a plane to Manchester.
Given the fact that he must still quarantine for a short length of time before completing his transfer, it appears like he will be in a race against time if he is to play in the match against Leeds.
Of course, Solskjaer may choose to start him regardless, but it would be without him having played a single minute of pre-season with his new teammates, unless the process miraculously speeds up and allows him to play against Everton this weekend.
Varane will not only have not played in pre-season for Manchester United, but he will not have played in any pre-season game at all if he misses the Everton match. He last appeared in a match in France's Euro 2016 quarterfinal loss to Switzerland in a penalty shootout.
The Frenchman did train with Real Madrid briefly before joining Manchester United, but he will be lacking in match fitness with the season only eleven days away.
Solskjaer will have to make a huge decision about whether or not to jeopardize the sharpness of his new signing against Leeds. Despite the fact that United won comfortably at Old Trafford last season, Leeds were one of the division's most dangerous attacking sides, and it might be a risk that backfires on the Norwegian.
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