Has Erik ten Hag fallen out with Raphael Varane? Man Utd boss addresses rift rumours & talk of misfiring Red Devils needing attacking transfers in January

The World Cup-winning defender has not started a Premier League game for the Red Devils since September 30, with former club captain Harry Maguire being brought back in from the cold. There has been talk of a rift forming between the demanding Dutch coach and the French centre-half, with Varane understandably disappointed at being overlooked on a regular basis.

Quizzed on that gossip ahead of a meeting with Everton on Sunday, Ten Hag has told reporters: “I don't know what you're talking about. It's just rumours but there is internal competition. When you have to decide between two players who are brilliant - Varane and Harry Maguire - then you have to make a choice. Jonny [Evans] is on his way back. He won't be available for Everton but it won't take long.”

Ten Hag is also adamant that he does not need to dip into the January transfer window for attacking reinforcements – despite £72 million ($91m) summer signing Rasmus Hojlund yet to record a Premier League goal and Marcus Rashford having just one effort to his name. Ten Hag said on the supposed need to bolster his striking department: “Our players are able to score goals. They've shown it already. Rashy scored 30 goals last season, Rasmus has scored five Champions League goals. Not many players across Europe can deliver that. So our players are capable of scoring goals and there will come a point when they will. As a group, we're ranked fifth in the Premier League for creating chances so the players need to step up and deal with the pressures.”

While United are creating chances, they have only scored 13 league goals this season – the worst return in the top-half of the table. They have also endured issues at the back, with Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana still facing some uncomfortable questions on the back of an error-strewn start to his time at Old Trafford.