Manchester United have chosen not to trigger a one-year contract extension option for Raphael Varane, allowing the defender to begin negotiations with international clubs about a summer transfer tomorrow.
The present contract of the France international ends at the conclusion of the season, but it includes an automatic renewal mechanism that United has failed to execute by the January 1 deadline.
United are still keen in extending Varane’s deal and hope to initiate contract talks next month.
According to Mail Sport, United believe the 30-year-old’s current £340,000-a-week wage is tough to justify given his injury problems this season, which have limited him to seven Premier League games. Because triggering the deal would have kept Varane on a similar high income, the club wants to renegotiate fresh conditions.
United is trying to lower the wages of its highest-earning players more generally as part of their efforts to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules in order to free up resources for new acquisitions next summer.
Manchester United have decided not to exercise Raphael Varane’s contract extension option.
United wants to reduce the pay of their highest-paid players in order to free up resources.
Varane, who joined United from Real Madrid for £34 million two and a half years ago, became the club’s highest-paid player after Cristiano Ronaldo and David De Gea left.
Varane is a vital part of Erik Ten Hag’s plans, and despite doubts about his fitness, he has started United’s last two games, but the club is in limbo until the Premier League confirms Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake purchase.
United risk losing Varane at the end of the season if they do not exercise the option to automatically renew his contract.
The club is in limbo while Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake is approved.
nited’s approach to Varane is similar to how they treated De Gea a year ago, when they elected not to activate an extension clause in the goalkeeper’s contract in order to reduce his £375,000-per-week wage.
The Spanish international was later offered a new contract, but he turned it down and left the club last summer.
Varane has recently been courted by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but he is thought to be happy at United. This summer, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans, and Tom Heaton will all be out of contract, joining Varane.