Man Utd make final decision on Raphael Varane after refusing to trigger contract extension

Manchester United are willing to let Raphael Varane leave the club for nothing at the end of his contract this summer.

The Red Devils lured the ex- Real Madrid ace to Old Trafford in 2021 on a contract that includes a one-year option that, if triggered, would extend Varane's stay at the club until the summer of 2025. However, it has since emerged that those at the top of the United hierarchy aren't so keen on activating the extra year.

Varane is one of United's highest earners and were he to leave, it would free up a significant chunk of wages. Forward Anthony Martial is expected to meet a similar fate as his fellow Frenchman and be allowed to leave the club, as per ESPN.

There is a large emphasis on clearing the wage bill from those running the show at United so that funds can be freed up for potential incomings. Whether Varane will be that hurt by the lack of desire to extend his stay is unclear, given reports emerged earlier this year that he was unhappy with the instability at Old Trafford.

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Back in January, The Manchester Evening News claimed that Varane felt as though he was being forced out of the club as United made little secret of their desire to try and get the World Cup winner on a new deal with significantly reduced wages.

On New Year's Eve, United legend Gary Neville made his feelings on the rumours that the club were trying to keep Varane at all crystal clear. "If United are looking to renew [Victor] Lindelof and Varane (on reduced terms) I’m worried," he wrote on social media.

"We have to start afresh as much as possible. Whilst these two aren’t bad players by any stretch, a message must be sent to everyone inside and outside of the club that it’s not going to tolerate the levels over the last few years."

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Erik ten Hag is expected to oversee a number of notable departures this summer
(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Varane is not the only high-profile figure on his way out of United. Christian Eriksen will be permitted to depart for a small fee, while Lindelof is also likely to exit come the end of the campaign.

All three of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire are out of contract in 2025. In turn, the clock is ticking for United to try and cash in on any of the aforementioned trio before they are free to leave for no fee at all.

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