Transfer News: Barcelona weighing up summer loan move for Luke Shaw

Barcelona are reportedly eager to snap up Luke Shaw in the summer, and are plotting a loan move for the Manchester United defender.

According to a report by The Sun, Barcelona are set to launch the offensive to land Luke Shaw in the summer transfer window. The La Liga leaders are willing to begin negotiations with Manchester United over a possible loan deal for the English defender.

Shaw arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2014 with a lot of excitement surrounding his talent after a campaign that had seen him make the PFA Team of the Year. But, the four years that have followed have seen his progress being hit by a spate of injuries and fitness problems.

Under Jose Mourinho, Shaw has been a figure of struggle and frustration, bar a couple of months when he was starting games regularly. However, the Manchester United boss has regularly singled out the player for public criticism, with the latest likely to be the final straw for him.

Rumours have been rife about Shaw being ready to call time on his spell at Manchester United, having had a run-in with Mourinho last month. And he does not have any shortage of suitors either, with a barrage of English clubs interested in him. But, Barcelona are the most prominent name after him.

The Blaugrana currently have Jordi Alba and Lucas Digne as the left-back options at Ernesto Valverde’s disposal. While the former has been a player reborn under the Barcelona boss and has performed consistently, Digne’s time at Camp Nou seems to be coming to an end, with the Frenchman keen on securing regular game time.

Shaw is, thus, a viable target for Barcelona, who have shown a willingness to invest in England of late. For the player, it would represent a great way to start afresh and put the disappointment of Manchester United behind him while also representing a European heavyweight.

With Alba acting as his mentor, the youngster would also have the right guidance to get his career back on track before taking over from the Spaniard when the time comes for him to move on. Manchester United are unlikely to stand in his way either, with the club already eyeing up possible left-back recruitments for the summer.

For all intents and purposes, this looks like a deal that could see the light of the day. The only possible stumbling block could be Manchester United’s willingness to sell rather than send Shaw out on loan as he would be eligible to move for free a year later when his contract runs out at Old Trafford.

It now remains to be seen if Barcelona come up with a concrete offer to sign Shaw in a permanent deal, or if they succeed in swooping him away from Manchester United on loan instead.