Varane has returned to the starting XI in recent weeks (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United will not trigger their option to extend Raphael Varane’s contract at Old Trafford.
The former France international’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season. As is customary with player contracts at the club, United have the option to extend Varane’s deal by a further 12 months.
But according to the Daily Mail, they have decided against exercising that clause.
It means Varane will be free to hold talks with foreign clubs from 1 January over a free transfer this summer.
While they have decided against exercising the clause, United remain interested in offering Varane a new deal and plan to open talks next month.
Varane, who joined the club from Real Madrid in 2021, is thought to be United’s top earner on a deal worth £340,000-a-week.
United are eager to reduce their wage bill to free up funds for new signings in the summer as they wait for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of the club to be ratified by the Premier League.
Varane has been back in the starting XI in recent weeks (Picture: Getty)
United took a similar approach with David de Gea at the start of the year, opting against triggering a 12-month extension as they sought to agree reduced terms with the goalkeeper.
De Gea would go onto leave the club after 11 years of service at the end of last season.
Varane, 30, went 11 games without a starting appearance but has returned to the side in recent weeks with Harry Maguire injured.
He has started three of United’s last four games, missing the defeat to West Ham United on 23 December through illness.
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The World Cup winner has been strongly linked with a January move away from the club.
Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation with Real Madrid also interested in bringing him back to the Bernabeu where both David Alaba and Eder Militao are sidelined.
Erik ten Hag would prefer to keep Varane until the end of the season but will reportedly leave a final decision down to the players themselves.
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He can hold talks with foreign clubs from 1 January.