Neville concerns over Man Utd duo answered after admission he was 'worried'

01 January 2024 , 11:28

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Neville concerns over Man Utd duo answered after admission he was 'worried'

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has seen the club take different routes over a pair of players he is keen to see move on.

Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane both went into the current campaign with a year left on their deals, but with the club holding an option to extend both players' contracts. Neither has been a regular starter this term, thanks to form and fitness, while first-choice defender Lisandro Martinez is due to return from his own injury in the coming weeks.

United have opted against extending Varane's deal, with the French international's hefty wages said to be a sticking point. Lindelof, however, has been tied down for another year.

"If United are looking to renew Lindelof and Varane (on reduced terms) I’m worried," Neville wrote on social media on New Year's Eve. "We have to start afresh as much as possible.

"Whilst these two aren’t bad players by any stretch, a message must be sent to everyone inside and outside of the club that it’s not going to tolerate the levels over the last few years," he added. Neville's comments came just days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 percent stake in the club was made official, but there has not been a sea change just yet.

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Multiple reports indicate United have already exercised the extension on Lindelof's deal, meaning he will remain under contract with the club until the summer of 2025. Similar movement is expected when it comes to right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and midfielder Hannibal, but not for Varane.

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Manchester United have triggered an extension in Victor Lindelof's deal (Getty Images)

According to The Mail, United have made the decision not to trigger an extension with Varane, though that doesn't guarantee an exit. The World Cup winner's £340,000 per week wages are said to have deterred the club from triggering an automatic extension, but they could yet keep him around on new terms.

For now, though, Varane is free to talk to other European clubs wirh a view to a pre-contract agreement for the summer. There have also been suggestions former club Real Madrid could look to bring him back after losing David Alaba and Eder Militao to long-term injuries.

Varane lost his starting place to Harry Maguire earlier this season after picking up an injury, and was unable to force his way back into the team until Maguire himself was injured. The 30-year-old spent more than two months without a single Premier League start, but has completed the full 90 minutes in three of United's last four league games.

Tom Victor