Luke Shaw has an interesting new admirer and a new potential destination come summer, with Barcelona reportedly plotting a move for the Manchester United man.
According to an exclusive report from The Mirror, Luke Shaw’s career could be set for an interesting turn of events in the summer. The Manchester United outcast has been linked with an exit in the upcoming transfer window. And it seems he has a new suitor in the form of Barcelona, who are looking to add the Englishman to their squad.
Luke Shaw was expected to be the future of Manchester United and England on the left flank. But, a few years into his career, the player is not nearly as successful as he would have hoped to be. Not a Manchester United starter and unlikely to be on the plane to Russia for England, Shaw’s career has stagnated, or perhaps, even regressed.
Jose Mourinho’s latest public criticism has been touted to be the last straw for Shaw, who is ready to call quit Manchester United in the summer. The player does not even have a dearth of suitors, with Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea and others lining up for the left-back.
But, an interesting new proposition could be heading Shaw’s way – a project that could entice him exponentially more than the others. Barcelona have entered the fray for the Englishman. The Catalans have Lucas Digne and Jordi Alba as the options at left-back.
Digne has been linked to a summer exit while Alba himself has not exactly been on fire for the club, prompting Ernesto Valverde to look for an addition on the left flank come summer. While many had tipped Barcelona to go for David Alaba, Shaw could prove to be a better alternative.
For one, Barcelona have recently signed Marcus McGuane, showing that, if the talent is present, they will not be hesitant to move for the player, regardless of the nationality. Shaw himself could do with a change of league and surroundings. At Barcelona, the focus will also be more towards attack, something Shaw has no problems with.
It is the defensive aspect that has been questioned by Mourinho, something that could be covered at Barcelona. Also, it would not be too much to say that, at Southampton, where the football was more progressive and a bit more leaned towards the philosophy laid down at Barcelona, Shaw had excelled, which could be an interesting point to look at when considering the viability of the move.
At 22, Shaw could be just the right man for the job for Barcelona. The Manchester United star could be easily phased into the lineup to take over from Alba. Another important factor that might play in their favour is the fact that the other suitors in Shaw’s pursuit happen to be Manchester United’s competitors.
And if the Red Devils are to look to offload Shaw, they would be better off in the move not resulting in strengthening a league rival, which should hand Barcelona the advantage.
Shaw is likely to be available in the summer, and for cheap, compared to the amount Barcelona might have to pay for the likes of Alaba. This looks like a move that is very much plausible and depends entirely on whether the current La Liga leaders do lodge in a formal offer for the Manchester United star.
