• Manchester United decide not to exercise Raphael Varane’s contract extension option.
• Varane can negotiate with overseas teams now over a free transfer in the summer.
• The Red Devils say the 30-year-old defender’s £340,000-a-week salary is too high.

The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United have decided not to exercise the option to extend Raphael Varane’s contract, which would have allowed him to negotiate with overseas teams now over a free transfer in the summer.

The Frenchman’s current contract expires at the end of this season. But he was conditional on an automatic 12-month extension. Yet the ยูฟ่าเบท club refused to use it.

However, United remain interested in extending his contract to keep him at Old Trafford and plan to negotiate a new deal in the new year.

The Red Devils say the 30-year-old defender’s £340,000-a-week salary is too high. Considering his injury problems have limited him to starting only 7 Premier League matches this season.

Using the contract extension option will ensure Varane receives the same high salary as before. Therefore the club wants to negotiate new terms.

United are also trying to reduce the wages of other high-paid players. To open the way for signing new players next summer. At the same time, they want to align with the Premier League‘s profit and sustainability rules.

Varane has become United’s highest-paid player following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea following his £34m move from Real Madrid. two years ago

The forward is still seen as a key part of Erik Ten Hag’s plans and he has started each of United’s last two matches, despite concerns over his fitness.

Varane has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but it is believed he is still happy at United. In addition to Varane, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bi Ssaka, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton are also out of contract this summer.