Manchester United might already have an option to save them millions in summer transfer window

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is confident fellow countryman Willy Kambwala has a bright future ahead of him at Old Trafford.

The centre-back, who joined the club's academy in October 2020, was handed his debut for the 2-0 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium just before Christmas. He started in the heart of the back four, partnering Jonny Evans, and stored 84 minutes under his belt.

He has since made three further appearances, all via the substitutes bench, as he continues to try and force his way into Erik ten Hag's long-term plans. He has been named in the matchday squad on six separate occasions in the Premier League this season.

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United are highly likely to make changes at centre-back this forthcoming summer, with Lisandro Martinez the only member of the Reds' senior pool of centre-backs guaranteed a place in Ten Hag's long-term thinking. Varane and Evans are both out-of-contract this summer and it remains to be seen if Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will get the game time they will believe they deserve.

Overall, it is thought United need to recruit at least one new centre-back this summer to become Martinez's long-term partner. If Varane moves on, likewise Evans, Kambwala could be tasked with stepping up to the first team on a full-time basis, even if it means taking a lowly position in the pecking order to start with.

Nevertheless, he is understood to have impressed United staff with his development, and Varane is confident he can become a top player.

"He shows his qualities," Varane told United's in-house media.