Raphael Varane is reportedly hopeful his Manchester United contract will be extended, despite it expiring next summer, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag limited Raphael Varane to just 19 Premier League minutes before his start at Anfield and it looked like the French defender was on his way out of Manchester United.
Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich, who Varane started against last week, were interested in the defender ahead of a move either in January or on a free transfer.
Ten Hag decided to start Varane against the German Champions and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and the former Real Madrid defender certainly proved why he could be a vital asset for the Red Devils.
Varane’s future
According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, the defender is hopeful that his contract at the club will be extended, despite him being free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January.
Varane has a one-year contract extension option at the club which can be triggered by the Red Devils. United reportedly erroneously communicated to the defender’s team and the wider media that his contract expires in 2025.
A similar fiasco happened with Nemanja Matic’s contract extension, the club communicated a three-year contract extension but the Serbian midfielder had agreed to a two-year extension.
The centre-half wants to stay at United and he was named the man of the match in their creditable goalless draw at Anfield and kept out the dangerous attack of Bayern until midway through the second half.
Varane’s importance
The Frenchman remains the Red Devils’ most important defender and he has proven that in his past two appearances for United.
His abilities to defend his own penalty box can simply not be replicated by another defender at Old Trafford with Lisandro Martinez, arguably United’s second-best defender, not as good as the Frenchman at defending his own goal, hence why the two complement each other.
He must remain at the club. John Murtough, United’s director of football, has reportedly flown into Saudi Arabia to try and generate some funds, according to the Daily Mail, with the Frenchman one of the names who could be on his way out.
This, however, would be a big mistake by Ten Hag and United.
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