Mbappe gives Ten Hag plenty to consider with pointed Man Utd transfer message
Kylian Mbappe has talked up Raphael Varane amid speculation that the defender could be allowed to leave Manchester United in the summer.
The France defender, 30, joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 and quickly established himself as a key figure under firstly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Erik ten Hag, however, Varane has fallen down the pecking order this term.
United do have an option to extend Varane's current contract, which expires at the end of the season, by an additional 12 months but the club are instead planning to try and renegotiate his deal in a bid to lower his salary.
And while it remains to be seen if Varane is open to such a proposal, there has also been suggestions that the defender could be allowed to leave at the end of the campaign, with a new report from ESPN claiming Ten Hag is keen on overseeing a rebuild of his defence in the summer transfer window.
But Mbappe, Varane's former teammate in the French national team, has spoken out on the impact that the defender's international retirement has had on Les Bleus in a move which could give Ten Hag some food for thought.
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The Paris Saint-Germain forward told GQ: “This year we have lost great champions, very important players like Hugo [Lloris] and Raphael [Varane], but in the end the group has not been affected. That shows true cohesion and ability to adapt.
“We are one of the most anticipated teams in this tournament and we are prepared and confident. We qualified very well and now our goal is to win.”
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Varane, who played with Mbappe for France, could be let go by United in the summerAmid Ten Hag's plans to reshape his defence this summer, Varane is far from the only player at risk, with United reportedly willing to consider significant offers for Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. The club activated a one-year option in the contract of the former last month.
United favourite Gary Neville expressed his concerns at plans to keep Lindelof and Varane around, insisting that the club should start afresh following the announcement of Ineos' deal with the Glazer family. Taking to social media on New Year's Eve, Neville said: “If United are looking to renew Lindelof and Varane (on reduced terms) I’m worried.
“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.”
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