Manchester United are in severe danger of losing Raphael Varane on a free transfer next summer, thanks to a peculiar contract snafu that might see the Frenchman leave a year earlier than intended.

The World Cup champion joined United in a £34 million deal in the summer of 2021, leaving Real Madrid following a trophy-laden decade at the Bernabeu. Varane was said to have signed a four-year contract with Manchester United that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2025, with a weekly wage of £340,000.

With Cristiano Ronaldo also coming to Old Trafford that summer on club-record earnings, and David De Gea also on a very nice contract, Varane’s salary made him the club’s third-highest earner at the moment. Varane is currently United’s top earner, with an annual salary of £17,680,000 before tax, following the departures of the previous two.

However, The Athletic believes that Varane’s contract is not as simple as it first appeared. And they claim his contract will now end a year earlier than previously thought, leaving the club vulnerable to losing the 30-year-old as a free agent next summer.

And, rather than his contract continuing until 2025, it has now been revealed that it only goes until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season – however there is a condition that permits them to extend it by another year.

The wording of that clause, however, are unclear, and it is believed that one of the prerequisites is the proportion of games Varane has played in order to trigger an extension.

Varane is about to depart Manchester United

And, with Varane recently falling out of favor under Erik Ten Hag, United are in danger of losing their asset as a free agent in a couple of months.

Indeed, with the January business window opening in just 18 days, Varane is now said to be eligible to negotiate a pre-contract deal with any interested international bidders.

Given Varane’s paucity of game time this season (he has only made eight starts in all competitions), his future was already a source of concern.

To that reason, United were reportedly seeking to make Jean-Clair Todibo the first signing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s reign in January, thereby driving Varane out the door.

As a result, Varane has recently been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, with Thomas Tuchel’s team in desperate need of a new center-half. Varane’s wage demands, however, are seen as a concern for the Bundesliga champions, who have apparently shifted their attention to Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo instead.

Juventus have also been connected with an offer, and there has been talk of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, with SPL clubs easily able to meet his pay demands.

United had apparently been looking at a £20m to £25m asking price for the seasoned defender, wherever he ends up. However, if the conditions of his contract enable him to leave on a free transfer, United may find themselves unable to recuperate any of their £34 million investment in the player.

Man United will suffer a setback as a result of the free transfer

Despite recently falling out of favor, Ten Hag chose to recall Varane for Tuesday’s final Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

United, on the other hand, put up a timid performance as they exited the competition with a whimper, finishing bottom of Group A and being eliminated from all European action as a result.

Long term, it’s possible that United don’t see Varane as a long-term solution. Rumours have circulated that incoming new investor Ratcliffe has been critical of the club for paying such exorbitant amounts – and offering massive contracts – to big-name athletes like as Varane and Casemiro, who have joined the club in the latter stages of their careers.

As a result, it appeared increasingly probable that Varane would not be a long-term fixture at the club.

Meanwhile, United will look to rebound from their Champions League exit in Sunday’s tough trip to Anfield to face current Premier League leaders Liverpool.