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Manchester United ready to sell first-team star in summer at a loss of £20m

Originally posted on Caught Offside
By Saikat Chatterjee | Last updated 3/10/24

Manchester United are prepared to cash in on Raphael Varane at the end of the season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to cash in on the experienced defender and bring in younger alternatives this summer. Leny Yoro has been identified as a potential target to replace the French international defender.

Manchester United paid £41 million when they signed the defender from Real Madrid and they are ready to accept a loss of £20 million to get rid of him. Varane is on massive wages of around £340,000 a week and Manchester United want to free up the wage bill in the summer.

Varane has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. There is no doubt that he was a world-class defender for Real Madrid and France but his performances at Manchester United have not quite been at that level.

Replacing him in the summer with a talented young defender like Yoro might not be a bad decision. The 18-year-old LOSC Lille defender is highly rated across Europe and he has a big future ahead of him. He could develop into a key player for Manchester United with the right guidance.

The defender’s contract with Manchester United expires in 2025 and therefore they are prepared to sell the 30-year-old at the end of the season. They will not want to lose him on a free transfer next year.

This article first appeared on Caught Offside and was syndicated with permission.

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