Raphael Varane free to negotiate with foreign clubs as Manchester United make contract decision

Manchester United have decided not to take up the extra year option on Raphael Varane’s contract, talkSPORT understands.

Varane is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs ahead of becoming a free agent in the summer.

United are still open to World Cup winner Varane signing a new deal on a reduced salary.

The 30-year-old centre back joined the Red Devils in 2021 in a £41million deal from Real Madrid.

The signing was seen as a huge coup due to Varane’s four Champions League titles while in Spain, but things haven’t gone quite to plan since.

A Carabao Cup winner last season, Varane’s defensive partnership with Lisandro Martinez has been broken up due to injuries for both players.

Varane has played 16 out of a possible 28 games for United this season, with Erik ten Hag’s side losing 14 of their total games, conceding 45 goals to their 37 scored.

Already out of Europe and the League Cup, United dropped to seventh in the Premier League and nine points from the top four with defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out.

Varane has been linked with a move away throughout the season, seeing both Al Nassr and Real Madrid named as potential desitinations.

Former club Real are without first-choice centre backs Eder Militao and David Alaba for the season due to ACL injuries, and would need the Frenchman to arrive immediately, rather than when his contract expires in the summer.