On the contrary, I think the pressure and responsibility is exactly what Varane needs right now to get his focus back.
Why is that on the contrary? I said we know he can handle that as he did both at club and NT level. A new challenge might bring him back to his best as you say.
Given how Varane seems to be more casual over the last couple years in his play, not making the most of his physical attributes (maybe because of his long injury layoff?), I feel he will be as much a risk as Kounde would. Just for different reasons.
For me it's more about who would slot into our defence better to plug areas of weakness we have most.
Yeah, I can't deny any of that. It's a debate for sure.
A Varane at his best, with his pace and quality of both defense and on the ball is superb, even if he is not the aggressive defender Maguire might need; but does he still want to get there? He is imo an 80+mil defender that we might get for a lot less and is worth the gamble. At the very least we know he will not crumble for 2 years under the spotlight like a Fred or Lindelof.
Assuming Varane is a genuine possibility this is an important decision for the club to make. If we go for a young up and comer and it doesn't work, we will be crucified for not signing the obvious WC player; if we go for Varane and it doesn't work, it happens. That's how I see it. We just have to go for him.