Manchester United have reportedly taken up the option of extending left-back Luke Shaw’s contract until 2019
According to a report by ESPN, Manchester United have taken up the option to extend Luke Shaw’s current contract until 2019 with the club. Shaw’s contract is set to expire next summer, but it seems like the Red Devils are keen on giving the troubled defender another chance.
A slew of injuries prevented the player from truly making his mark for the club despite being impressive initially. The left-back conundrum is something Jose Mourinho has had to deal with due to Shaw’s absence but the manager appears to have faith in the former Southampton man.
The extension is likely to boost the youngster’s confidence and possibly propel him towards making a comeback this season. Shaw did feature in the Carabao Cup win against Burton Albion but he still has a long way to go as he continues to work on his fitness after enduring an ankle surgery over the summer.
Luke Shaw completed the switch to Old Trafford for an initial fee of £27 million, which saw him become the then most expensive teenager in the world of football. The pressure on him was immense upon joining as he was expected to serve as a replacement for the club’s long-serving left-back Patrice Evra.
The English defender started off on a strong note, building up a modest debut campaign with a solid start to the 2015-16 season. However, a horrific injury in the match against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League 2015, changed a lot of things for the youngster.
Since then, Shaw has hardly managed to find his feet again. United have been linked to Kieran Tierney from Celtic, which is likely to make things tougher for Shaw in terms of competition. If Mourinho is able to sign Tierney in January, it can strengthen the club’s defence but it will surely make things a lot tougher for Shaw.
So far, the Red Devils used makeshift options such as Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young as a left-back, but have still not signed an out-and-out natural player in that position. The new contract extension could mean that Mourinho is providing the youngster with one more opportunity to fight for his spot.
Shaw should be hoping that he gets the opportunity to show his manager what he can do, especially with Mourinho making a leap of faith of sorts. It is quite clear that the left-back has no shortage of talent. Working on his fitness and maintaining his focus should be of utmost priority for Shaw as he gets set to launch a strong comeback to the squad.
