Raphael Varane 'can speak to other clubs in three weeks' after Man Utd transfer decision

Raphael Varane will be able to speak with foreign clubs in January after details about his Manchester United contract emerged.

Varane joined United for £34million back in the summer of 2021 from Real Madrid, with the club announcing that he had signed until June 2025. He has made 76 appearances in all competitions for the club, establishing himself alongside Lisandro Martinez as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice in central defence.

But he has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Old Trafford and reports emerged earlier this month that United would be open to selling him in January. Varane is being paid around £250,000 per week and Ten Hag is ready to let him, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho leave in order to clear space in the squad.

That possibility could be easier than first thought, with The Athletic now reporting that Varane’s contract actually expires in June 2024, not 2025. The club has the option of extending his deal by a further 12 months, but the details of that clause are unknown – it could be performance-related or simply down to United’s discretion.

Whatever the truth, it means that Varane will be free to discuss a move to a club outside of England in January, once he enters the final six months of his contract. The 30-year-old could sign a pre-contract agreement with a club to seal a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window.

He has reportedly been frustrated with his lack of game time this season and there is ‘a degree of tension’ between him and Ten Hag. Former United defender Patrice Evra recently suggested there was “something wrong” between the two after Ten Hag opted to play Luke Shaw at centre-back ahead of the four-time Champions League winner.

Allowing Varane to leave on a free transfer in the summer would save United around £13m. Such a benefit would have to be considered alongside the idea of extending his contract by a further year just to protect his transfer value.

Varane has played 13 times for Ten Hag’s side this season and returned to the starting line-up for the 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich on Tuesday following seven weeks without a start. With Martinez sidelined in the long-term with an injury and Harry Maguire forced off with a groin strain against Bayern, his value to the side is clear at present.

Ten Hag recently played down the possibility of United making several signings in January because the club need to sell before they can buy. They spent over £170m in the summer to bring in Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana, while over £200m was spent in the summer of 2022 to sign Casemiro, Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia.