Barcelona Reportedly Eye Shock Loan Deal for Manchester United's Luke Shaw

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw is a Barcelona transfer target, with La Liga's leaders wanting to take the out-of-favour Englishman on a one-year loan deal next season, per Neil Ashton for The Sun. 

Shaw has rarely featured for United under Jose Mourinho, amassing just seven Premier League appearances this season and 18 in total since returning from a double leg fracture in July 2016.

The left-back has yet to decide whether to leave United and does not intend to be forced out despite being upset by Mourinho's persistent public criticism of him, according to Jamie Jackson for the Guardian.

But the poor relationship between Mourinho and Shaw shows no signs of healing. As recently as March 17, when United hosted Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup, Mourinho said he "was not happy" with Shaw's display despite his side winning 2-0, per BBC Sport.

John Percy and Ian Whittell of the Daily Telegraph reported some of the left-back's team-mates think he is being "bullied" by the manager.

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Barcelona could be interested in Shaw either as a replacement for the 29-year-old Jordi Alba or, more likely, as a back-up option. Ashton noted the left-back is "first choice" on Barcelona's wishlist.

Philippe Coutinho signed from Liverpool in January for a club-record £142 million, and Barca are reportedly setting aside money to capture Antoine Griezmann this summer, so an inexpensive loan deal would make sense.

News of Shaw's prospective move to Catalonia was first mooted in January by the Mirror's James Nursey, who reported Barcelona think the 22-year-old would be "good value," an opinion clearly shared by at least one former United player.

"I've got a great belief in Luke Shaw, and the reality is it would be a great shame if he leaves United without fulfilling his potential," Gary Neville wrote for Sky Sports.

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United travel to Manchester City on Saturday for a crucial Premier League derby in which the hosts can wrap up the league title in front of their archrivals. Shaw is not expected to start this match—he was an unused substitute in the 2-0 victory over Swansea City last time out—but will be hopeful of getting more minutes under his belt before the FIFA World Cup.

His contract is set to expire at the end of next season after the club recently triggered a clause to extend Shaw's deal by a year, per Samuel Luckhurst for the Manchester Evening News, which might complicate a potential loan switch. United might wish to cash in on the left-back before he can leave for nothing in 2019.