Ten Hag issues Varane contract update after Neville claims "he's been found out"

05 January 2024 , 12:30

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Ten Hag issues Varane contract update after Neville claims "he's been found out"

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has admitted the club are in talks with Raphael Varane over a contract extension.

The news may come as a shock to many, given Varane has for the most part struggled to hit the heights many expected he would upon his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2021. The former Real Madrid man sees his current deal expire in the summer of 2025 and there has been debate over whether United would look to activate a one-year extension.

United have recently extended the stays of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hannibal Mejbri and Victor Lindelof all via the one-year extension clauses inserted into their contracts, but Varane's situation is a tad more complex. The Red Devils are keen on keeping the defender around for longer than his current deal, but it would have to be on reduced terms.

The World Cup winner is currently taking home around £340,000 per week. United would look to slash those wages in a bid to free up some room financially for other players and potential transfer targets.

Varane has been the subject of links to both Bayern Munich and a number of Saudi Arabian outfits. But when asked about the prospect of the former France international sticking around, Ten Hag said: "We are talking with Rapha Varane, with Anthony Martial, and we triggered the options on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal.

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When Ten Hag was pressed for further comment on Varane and Martial, the United boss added: "I think that is an internal discussion between the club and the player."

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Raphael Varane's Man Utd future remains up in the air (Graham Wilson/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

The update may not be welcomed by United legend Gary Neville, who issued a fairly brutal assessment of Varane's time at the club last month in the wake of Champions League elimination at the group stage.

"He has gone under the radar, for his career, and he’s not the only one, I agree someone like him with the big matches and tournaments that you’d expect a lot, lot more," Neville explained.

"Something has happened, there's been a fall out, it doesn’t give me confidence. With defenders you look at if they are they a first or second centre back. He’s second, he likes the other to be dominant and he had that at Real Madrid. I think he’s been found out a bit. He’s not the dominant leader type you talk about."

Josh O'Brien