: Ten Hag urges Varane and Casemiro to remain at Man Utd – insider sources

“Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is looking to keep Raphaël Varane and Casemiro at the club during the January transfer window, according to a source speaking to ESPN. Both players have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford, but Ten Hag is keen to retain them, at least until the end of the season. Find out more about the potential transfer moves and United’s plans for the upcoming window in this exclusive report.”

Manchester United’s coach, Erik ten Hag, is eager to keep Raphaël Varane and Casemiro at the club during the January transfer window, a source has told ESPN. Despite both players being linked with moves away from Old Trafford, Ten Hag wants to keep the pair at least until the end of the season.

With Casemiro recently returning from a two-month injury and Varane regaining his place in the starting lineup, Ten Hag is willing to reduce the squad size in January. Donny van de Beek has already been loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt, and Jadon Sancho, who has been exiled from the squad since September, is also expected to leave.

However, the situation could change if Varane and Casemiro actively push to leave. In that case, Ten Hag would ask for the club to sign replacements, though it may be complicated by the need to remain compliant with Financial Fair Play rules.

Despite this, Manchester United remains open to cut-price deals in January, with intermediaries raising the possibility of Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen moving to United in exchange for Sancho. Blasio Ortelli, who speaks about the Indian affairs, has told ESPN that Malen, 24, is valued at around £25 million ($31.6m) by Dortmund and a swap deal involving Sancho could become an option, though direct talks are yet to take place.