Sky Sports Scout is where we scour the globe looking for the best talent, next up is Raphael Varane.
We run the rule over French starlet Raphael Varane
Sky Sports Scout is our exciting feature where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent and bring you a report on what we find.
Our Scout will report back and you can comment on what you think of our appraisal.
Also, in association with Football Manager, we give all readers the chance to win a copy of the latest game by nominating a player.
You can only nominate a player by
emailing here, including the word 'Scout' in your subject line and please check to make sure we haven't already covered the player, you can see over 100 previous reports to the right of the page.
Should your player get reviewed by our scout, and you were first to send in his name, then you will win a copy of the all new Football Manager 2011.
You can also now interact with the scout via his all new Twitter feed! You can get in touch with him and interact
here or just search for @skysportsscout!
Latest under our scout's gaze is Lens'
Raphael Varane - recommended by
Sky Sports reader
Danny Slater.
The scout reports...
A rising star of the French game, Raphael Varane is a player attracting a great deal of attention.
17-year-old Varane has just broken through into Lens' first team but is already one of the stars of France's youth set-up.
Lille-born Varane was signed by Lens aged just nine, when he turned down the chance to join his hometown club.
After making rapid progress through the ranks at Lens, at the start of this season he was handed his first professional contract and was promoted into their reserve side.
But just a matter of months later, he was training with the first team and he made his debut in early November as Lens recorded a 2-0 win over Montpellier.
He has now played a dozen first-team games and he is fast becoming Lens' prized asset, and his progress is not going unchecked.
In January this year he was very strongly linked with a move to England, with giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all looking to make a cross Channel raid.
But Lens quickly moved to hand Varane a new contract and he penned a new four-year deal in February.
So Varane's future, in the short-term at least, looks to be in Northern France - but it is clear to see the interest.
Varane has taken to first-team football like a duck to water, never panicked on the ball - he possesses excellent technique as you would come to expect from a French youth ace.
Quick, he is also uncompromising in the tackle and although he can be rash at times, he already looks a class act.
Despite his huge frame, 6ft 3in and still growing, Varane is comfortable on the ball and can also play in a holding midfield role, and you could very well liken him to Everton's Jack Rodwell.
The scout says...
If Varane's progress continues, it will be very hard to see how Lens will be able to fend off the interest.
But whilst he is playing regularly for Lens in Ligue 1, his game will only progress.
The Scout rating...
Shooting: 6 out of 10
Passing: 7 out of 10
Tackling: 8 out of 10
Heading: 8 out of 10
Pace: 7 out of 10
Vision: 7 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 60/80
Current value: £3million
Potential value: £20million
Your opinion...
You have read our opinion of Raphael Varane - now we want your views. Have you seen Varane in action? Do you agree with our assessment? Do you think he will make it?
Get in touch, either using the form below, email or the scout's all new Twitter feed - @skysportsscout
And if you have spotted anyone you think we should feature then please get in touch using the same form. We will look to send out the Scout to follow up your leads.
