Manchester United issue Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans injury update

Manchester United have revealed that Raphael Varane will be on the sidelines "for the next few weeks" due to the muscular problem that he suffered against Chelsea last week.

Varane was forced off at the interval of the clash with Chelsea, being replaced by Jonny Evans at Stamford Bridge.

Evans has also been dealing with fitness problems in recent weeks, though, and he had to be substituted shortly after entering the field, with the Northern Ireland international missing out against Liverpool on Sunday alongside Varane.

Neither player has been pictured in training with Man United this week, with the team preparing for Saturday's Premier League contest against Bournemouth.

The Red Devils have now issued a statement on the pair's fitness, with Varane facing a "few weeks" out, while Evans has a "shorter-term muscle issue" but will also be absent this weekend.

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"Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will be out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury sustained during our game against Chelsea last week," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The French World Cup winner is aiming to be back in action before the end of the season in May. Fellow centre-back Jonny Evans will also miss Saturday's game against Bournemouth with a shorter-term muscle issue."

Man United are also without fellow centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez until the start of May due to hamstring and calf problems respectively.

As a result, 19-year-old Willy Kambwala will again line up in the middle of the defence alongside Harry Maguire for Saturday's clash with Bournemouth, as was the case against Liverpool last time out.

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Will Varane play for the club again?

Varane's contract is due to expire at the end of June, and a recent report claimed that the Red Devils are planning to let him leave on a free transfer.

Man United's statement says that the ex-France international is bidding to return before the end of the season, but he will miss a lot of games over "the next few weeks".

The team's Premier League campaign will finish against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 19, but they could have an FA Cup final against either Manchester City or Chelsea at the end of next month.

With Varane looking likely to leave at the end of June, it is not impossible to imagine that he has played his last match for Man United, especially if both Martinez and Lindelof return in early May, and Maguire puts in strong performances between now and then.

A new centre-back will be a priority for Man United this summer, with the club looking for a long-term partner for Martinez, who will hope to put his injury problems behind him in 2024-25.