Manchester United reveal retained list with two senior stars released and two in contract talks

Manchester United are in talks with veterans Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans over extending their stays at the club beyond this summer, but they have confirmed the departure of three first-team players.

Brandon Williams, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial will all leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of this month, while youngsters Charlie McNeil, Marcus Lawrence and Kie Plumley will also depart.

Heaton and Evans are the only first-team players now out of contract this month and talks are taking place over extensions. Heaton didn't feature this season but is a valuable presence around the dressing room and a senior figure in the squad under Erik ten Hag.

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The 38-year-old was part of the leadership group in Ten Hag's first season and took back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir under his wing last term. Heaton, a United academy graduate, is open to staying at the club if a role beyond his playing days is tagged onto the deal.

But he would also consider options to play first-team football elsewhere, having been wanted by Luton Town last summer. Rob Edwards was keen to make Heaton his No.1 in the Premier League and a fee of £1.5million had been mooted, but Ten Hag wanted to retain the services of his third-choice goalkeeper.

Evans arrived on a free transfer from Leicester City last summer, having spent most of the summer training with his former club. A defensive injury crisis that rarely abated led to him playing 30 games in all competitions, including 23 in the Premier League, while he also came off the bench in the FA Cup final.

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