Manchester United to get rid of key player for FREE - as Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans squad overhaul: report
Manchester United are looking to make some big changes in the summer transfer window, with no player in the squad safe
Manchester United are willing to let a key player leave upon the expiry of their contract in the summer, with new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking to make big changes within the squad.
While Erik ten Hag's job security is currently uncertain, a number of other players within the Manchester United team will also be fretting over their futures as a squad overhaul looks likely this summer.
Sofyan Amrabat's loan expiry will see him leave in the summer, while Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans are also out of contract. That won't be the extent of the departures at Old Trafford, however, with one key player's deal not going to be renewed.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Manchester United are yet to offer Raphael Varane a new contract, with negotiations between the club and player non-existent.
As a result, Varane will be free to depart Old Trafford in the summer, with the three-year deal he signed when arriving from Real Madrid for £41m in 2021 set to expire at the end of the season.
While the Frenchman is currently free to discuss his future with clubs outside of England, it seems like Varane is still concentrating on the remainder of the campaign before deciding what's next for him. Romano suggests that there are suitors across Europe and Saudi Arabia interested in him, with it increasingly unlikely he'll extend with Manchester United.
“I’ve also had many questions about Raphael Varane. We’ve had many rumours about him receiving a new contract proposal, but this is not my understanding. From what I’m told, Varane has not received a single contract proposal and there is no negotiation with Man United,” Romano said.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
“Let’s see what will happen in the next months, but if there is no change he will leave as a free agent because his contract is expiring.
"I expect Varane to have many options in Europe and in Saudi, for sure. He will take his time over his future, but at current stages it looks unlikely for Varane to stay at Manchester United.”
More Manchester United stories
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo promoted to England senior squad
Manchester United star furious over 'ostracism', with career under INEOS hanging in the balance: report
Christian Eriksen: 'I am unhappy with my situation at Manchester United'
Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.