Manchester United 'to allow' £41 million star to leave this summer, with 'no U-turn' under Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United have a big summer transfer window ahead of them as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to make some significant changes to the club. As well their list of potential targets, the Red Devils are looking to shift a number of players in order to raise funds and also clear space on the wage bill.

An update from Football Insider has reported that United are ‘set to allow’ Raphaël Varane to leave the club in the summer following ‘new talks behind the scenes’. The defender had a one-year extension clause in his contract but the club have opted not to trigger this and there has been ‘no U-turn’ on keeping him at Old Trafford since the arrival of Ratcliffe and his INEOS organisation.

Varane’s departure will not be the only one freeing up important wage space either. Jonny Evans, Anthony Martial and Tom Heaton’s deals are all also expiring at the end of the season, and Sofyan Amrabat is set to return to Fiorentina unless United make his loan move permanent. However, reports have indicated that this is unlikely to be on the club’s radar.

Despite being a regular in United’s lineup last season, Varane has had inconsistent time on the pitch this term and has made just 30 appearances across all competitions so far. The 30-year-old signed the Frenchman in 2021 from Real Madrid, for a fee of £41 million including add-ons.

United have been linked with new centre-back targets for months now as the summer transfer window rapidly approaches. Injury problems have caused significant setbacks within the squad and the future of Harry Maguire remains a grey area as, despite being heavily linked with an exit last year, he has started 15 Premier League games so far this season.