Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Luke Shaw's Future, Top Rumours
Luke Shaw's future at Manchester United is in doubt amid rumours of a continuing frosty relationship with Jose Mourinho. Shaw's people even reportedly believe Mourinho is holding a personal grudge stemming from the defender choosing United over Chelsea while the Portuguese coach was still in charge of the Blues back in 2014.
In a report for The Times, Paul Hirst (h/t Metro's Sean Kearns) noted how Shaw has become something of an outcast since Mourinho took over at United in the summer, stating how "he has started only seven league games under Mourinho."
Looking for a reason for Mourinho's unwillingness to place his trust in Shaw, Hirst (h/t Kearns) pointed to some recent history: "According to The Times, Shaw's representatives fear Mourinho still holds a grudge over the fact that he rejected Chelsea and is taking it out on the defender."
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Kearns also noted how there are now "huge doubts over his future at Old Trafford, despite the £30m United invested in making him the most expensive teenager in football two years ago."
The doubts about Shaw come on the heels of recent reports indicating he will feature more often for Mourinho next season. Before United's recent 1-1 draw against FC Rostov in the UEFA Europa League, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News reported how patience would be shown to Shaw at Old Trafford: "M.E.N. Sport understands United intend to stand by Shaw and have no plans to reinforce their problem position of left-back."
Shaw certainly boasts the basic tools to be a regular starter for any big club in England's top flight. He's got the pace and energy to be a menace going forward when raiding the flanks.
Still just 21, Shaw also has the recovery speed and natural physical strength to improve defensively. Frankly, the England man is exactly the type of talented prospect Mourinho should continue building his new-look United team around.
However, he isn't being given the chances to earn Mourinho's confidence. Instead, the Red Devils chief appears content to play almost anyone else at the position, with Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind all used ahead of Shaw this season.
In this context, a summer split may be best for both club and player.
United Reportedly Scouting Lyon Ace
Shaw's place in Mourinho's future plans may be in doubt, but the Red Devils are reportedly already running the rule over a potential signing in midfield. The player in question is Lyon's 19-year-old Lucas Tousart, according to the Daily Mirror.
The report described how "the 19-year-old was watched by United scouts during last week's Europa League fixture against Roma." There were also details regarding interest from Serie A side Palermo in Tousart: "Italian club Palermo have offered to double Lyon's £2.25million outlay for the holding midfielder, dubbed 'Le Petit Deschamps' by French media, but that was refused."
United keeping tabs on a precocious midfielder makes sense considering how Mourinho's squad is ageing at the position. In particular, the manager must find a replacement for 35-year-old Michael Carrick.
The veteran is a key player thanks to his positional discipline and varied passing radar. United don't have another natural deep-lying playmaker ready to take Carrick's place.
Ander Herrera offers the desired technical quality, but he's wasted in deeper areas. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to get an extended look under Mourinho.
Tousart's rapid development at Lyon, his innate tenacity as a ball winner and patient distribution in possession make him an intriguing candidate to fill a key role for United in the near future.
However, bigger questions about what Mourinho and United will do at left-back will persist. The answers may involve Shaw moving on.
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