Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has denied any feud with defender Raphael Varane.

Varane, 30, has started just one of United’s last eight games and has been linked with a January departure from Old Trafford. Ten Hag has a history of squabbles with senior players like as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, but the Dutchman claims Varane’s absence is due to fierce competition for spots.

“Who is Rapha Varane?” “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Friday when questioned about a suspected feud with the French World Cup winner.

“It’s just rumors.” Very important player, but there is internal competitiveness, which should exist at a top team like ours.”

Ten Hag is preparing his players for a tough game against Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park.

He’s hoping to have goalkeeper André Onana back after he withdrew from the Cameroon squad with a back ailment during the international break, and Luke Shaw is back after three months out with a muscle problem.

Jonny Evans is still out, and Rasmus Hjlund, who had an injury before the break, will have a late fitness test, as will Mason Mount.

“Andre is OK. “He came in today and did well,” Ten Hag added.

“Rasmus, it’s still a close race.” He’s training, he just completed outside, doing very excellent steps, and we’ll make a final decision tomorrow.

“Luke Shaw will be available for Sunday and will be a member of the squad.” Jonny is on his way back; he’s not ready for Everton yet, but he won’t be long.”

Marcus Rashford will be available to play in Manchester United’s potentially critical Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich next month, after UEFA declared on Friday that he had avoided a two-match suspension for a red card in their recent 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen.

Rashford, 26, will miss next Tuesday’s Group A match in Istanbul against Galatasaray, a game United cannot afford to lose if they are to advance to the knockout stages, after being sent off against Copenhagen for a foul on defender Elias Jelert.

Because Rashford was given a straight red card for the tackle, in which he caught Jelert with a raised boot on the shin, United were required to wait for UEFA’s disciplinary board to assess the event before deciding on the duration of the player’s ban.

Despite having the authority to suspend Rashford from the statutory one-match punishment, the board awarded the one-game penalty after determining that the offense amounted to nothing more than “rough play.”

Rashford has only scored one goal in 16 appearances for Manchester United this season, with boss Erik ten Hag stating earlier this month that the attacker has not lived up to expectations.

However, with United still possible to qualify from Group A with a win over Bayern Munich at Ole Trafford next month if they avoid defeat against Galatasaray, Rashford’s availability for the game will be considered as a boost for the team’s development ambitions.