Revealed: The moment Erik ten Hag and Raphael Varane's relationship 'broke down' as Man Utd star edges towards January exit

Varane has become so unpopular with Ten Hag that their relationship has all but collapsed. After Varane was benched for the Manchester derby last month, there is thought to have been a frank exchange as per The Daily Mail. Since then, the Frenchman has only appeared as a substitute three times. The 30-year-old reportedly feels undervalued because Jonny Evans was picked before him and, when Evans went off injured two weeks ago against Luton Town, Victor Lindelof was chosen to play with Harry Maguire.

Although Varane's £340,000-per-week salary is unlikely to be affordable for Bayern Munich, the German club have indicated interest in landing him in a £25 million ($31 million) transfer in January. United have talked about finding replacements, but signing Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo may present a conflict of interest because of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ownership of the French team.

"Maguire took his chance when Varane was absent. When the moment is there, you take it and the other has to fight back," Ten Hag told beIN Sports on Thursday.

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes over as United's football operations manager, he will have to make an important decision on the futures of Casemiro and Varane.