Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane allegedly feels that he is being forced out of Old Trafford.
After playing a fundamental role in the Red Devils' success in the 2022-23 campaign alongside Lisandro Martinez, Varane has endured a much more frustrating season under Erik ten Hag this time around.
The former Real Madrid centre-back began the season strongly, netting the only goal in his side's 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening Premier League weekend, but he often found himself on the bench following a minor injury in September.
Even with Martinez struggling with a recurrence of his foot injury, Varane fell behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and the returning Jonny Evans in the pecking order, purportedly to his chagrin.
A falling-out between Varane and Ten Hag was rumoured to have been the reason for his demotion to a bit-part role, although the latter denied rumours of a rift and has since brought him back into the XI following injuries to Maguire and Lindelof.
The 30-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in three of the Red Devils' last four Premier League games, but he is out of contract in six months' time and is free to begin talks with foreign teams over a pre-contract agreement.
Varane's terms - which were erroneously first reported as a four-year agreement in 2021 - include an option to extend his stay for another season, but Man United have supposedly decided not to activate that clause.
As a result, the Frenchman is due to depart as a free agent this summer unless he is sold during the current January window, and according to the Manchester Evening News, he feels that he is being pushed towards the exit door.
While a new contract for Varane has not been ruled out, Man United would supposedly require the centre-back to accept a pay cut rather than keeping him on the same wage packet by triggering the existing 12-month option.
Varane is reportedly yet to decide whether to stay on with a decreased salary, and he has also been left unimpressed by a "lack of stability" at the Theatre of Dreams in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Red Devils' 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday represented their 14th defeat of the season in all competitions, the first time since the 1930-31 season that they had suffered so many beatings to that point of the new term.
Nine of those losses have come in the Premier League for Ten Hag's men, who sit seventh in the table and could find themselves 14 points behind leaders Liverpool if Jurgen Klopp's side beat Newcastle United on Monday.
However, significant sporting changes will soon occur at Old Trafford thanks to the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose 25% purchase of the club was confirmed on Christmas Eve, although it is yet to be ratified by the Premier League.
Despite Varane's apparent concerns, the report adds that Man United have stressed no players will be ushered towards the exit door in January, but a handful of unwanted performers could still depart.
Donny van de Beek's loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt was announced on Monday morning, while Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial are also on the chopping block. body check tags ::
