Raphael Varane’s Man Utd contract expires this summer (Photo: Getty)
Gary Neville says Manchester United should be looking to let go of Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane instead of renewing their contracts.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of United now complete, fans are expecting the club’s transfer policy to undergo some big changes.
This would surely include the Red Devils getting rid of deadwood and allowing underperforming players to leave.
It was extremely surprising and angering to many then when it was reported that United had triggered their option to extend Lindelof’s contract – which was due to expire in the summer – to 2025.
They also want to retain the services of fellow centre-back Varane and offer him a new deal, with his current one up at the end of the season.
However, it is said that, bizarrely, they will not trigger the extension clause in his contract meaning that from the 1st January he will be free to negotiate a free transfer to a foreign club.
It seems incredibly strange that United are prioritising Lindelof’s future over Varane’s, given that the French World Cup winner is widely considered to be by far the better defender.
Victor Lindelof has just had his Man Utd deal extended to 2025 (Photo: Getty)
But as far as Neville is concerned, both players should be out the door come the end of the campaign, tweeting: ‘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 2 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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While Varane was a key part of Erik ten Hag’s side last season, a mix of injury and a drop in form saw him surprisingly lose his place to Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans earlier this season.
Lindelof has featured a fair bit this campaign, filling in across the backline during the team’s injury crisis but is currently on the sidelines himself with a groin problem.
United finished 2023 with a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a result that has left them seventh in the table, 11 points off leaders Liverpool.
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