Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly weighing up a move to sign Luke Shaw from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Arsenal and Chelsea have set their sights on Luke Shaw, and the Premier League duo are plotting a potential swoop for the Englishman. Manchester United are set to initiate talks over a new long-term deal, but will need to move quick with the player’s deal expiring this summer.
Shaw has endured a stop-start career since switching allegiances from Southampton to Manchester United in the summer of 2014 in a £27 million deal. But, the player seems to have finally made it into the manager’s good books, after 15 tough months under Jose Mourinho.
Since making his first Premier League start of the season in December, the 22-year-old seems to have won the Manchester United boss over, and is seemingly alongside Ashley Young in the pecking order, having started seven of the last ten league games.
What is further pleasing about Shaw’s remarkable turnaround is Mourinho being vocal in his praise for the player after performing consistently. The Portuguese even went as far as saying that he expects Shaw to remain a Manchester United player for years.
Jose on @LukeShaw23: “He has been, for a few months, free of minor injuries that can stop [a player’s] evolution and I’m really happy [with him]. I think he will be a Manchester United player for years.” #MUFC pic.twitter.com/fXZAN7RzkJ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 9, 2018
But, that will only happen if the club extends his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season. Otherwise, they risk losing the England international for free, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea starting to circle.
At Arsenal, Sead Kolasinac hasn’t quite managed to settle in as quickly as it was initially thought, with Nacho Monreal starting as left-back in the last few months. Even Ainsley-Maitland Niles looked to have usurped the Bosnian before being deployed as a midfielder recently.
With Monreal on the wrong side of 30 though, Shaw is possibly being eyed as a long-term successor, who could help provide Arsene Wenger two strong options on the left side of the Arsenal defence. But, the North Londoners face stiff competition in the form of Chelsea.
Antonio Conte does have two options for the left wing-back slot since the arrival of Emerson Palmieri in January. But, Marcos Alonso is being linked with a return to Spain in the coming summer, putting Chelsea in a precarious position, which explains why they could have set their sights at the Manchester United defender.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are monitoring Shaw’s contract situation, although the player himself wants to remain at Manchester United. The Red Devils are set to initiate talks with Shaw over a bumper new deal soon, with the new contract elevating his wages considerably as well.
But, with talks yet to start, Arsenal and Chelsea seem to be fancying their chances. Manchester United, though, are not worrying about the situation and are confident that they will tie Shaw down to a new deal. It now remains to be seen if the Red Devils do end up keeping hold of him.
