Sources: Ten Hag stance on Man United selling Varane revealed

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Published on:

09 Nov 2023, 1:30 am

Erik ten Hag is keen to keep Raphael Varane at Man United amid interest from the Saudi Pro League ahead of the January window, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (6 November) that Saudi clubs are expected to register an interest in the 30-year-old defender in the mid-season window.

Varane, 30, has struggled with injury problems since arriving at Old Trafford in August 2021.

Nevertheless, it is believed Ten Hag wants to keep him at the club as the Dutchman weathers something of an injury crisis at centre-back.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Varane is still seen as a regular starter by the manager despite his time on the bench in recent weeks.

Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans have stepped in during United's injury problems, with the former enjoying a resurgence at Old Trafford after being stripped of the captaincy earlier this year.

Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw are on the Man United treatment table - while Varane has not been able to string together a run of starts.

The World Cup winner cost a reported £41million in 2021 when he joined Man United from Real Madrid off the back of winning the Champions League – his fourth success in the competition.

Varane's contract at Old Trafford, which nets him a reported wage of £340,000-a-week, is set to run until June 2025.

Football Insider revealed on 25 October that Man United are one of several Premier League clubs monitoring Uruguay international centre-back Sebastian Caceres.

He could be available in the January window for a bargain fee of between £6-10million.

Caceres could supplement Varane in the Man United defence with Ten Hag still short-handed.

In other news, Sir Jim Ratcliffe eyes two "huge" Man United deals.

Manchester United