Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is being linked with a move to second-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window. According to reports from Yahoo Sport, White Hart Lane has emerged as a likely destination for the left-back, if United decide to sell him after the end of the season.
21-year old Shaw had been regarded as one of the hottest prospects in England since his days in Southampton that saw the Red Devils shell out huge amounts of money to sign him back in the summer of 2014. But the Englishman has struggled to take off at Old Trafford, despite showing glimpses of his potential. Having struggled with both form and fitness, Shaw has notched up less than 50 appearances for United in almost three years and has been a source of disappointment.
New manager Jose Mourinho has been extremely critical of the youngster this season and has at least on two occasions criticized Shaw in the media. The Portuguese boss froze him out of his squad for a good part of the season, due to Shaw’s fitness issues and as a result has just made 14 appearances so far, across all competitions. The Englishman just made his return to the first-team in the 4-0 win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup. However, Shaw was then left out of the matchday squad for the next two games.
And with reports doing rounds regarding Mourinho’s growing frustrations over the lack of his progress and development, Mauricio Pochettino is planning a swoop for his former charge during his days in Southampton.
Shaw, despite hitting a roadblock in recent times, has shown bags of potential and promise. And Pochettino saw it first-hand during his time with the Saints, when he spent 16 months with the young left-back. The current Tottenham manager played a huge hand in Shaw’s development and while it might feel tempting to bring him back under his wings and further aid his progress, Spurs should be more pragmatic about the deal.
In Danny Rose, Tottenham have the best left-back in the country among their ranks. The Englishman has gone on from strength to strength, season by season, and has been one of Spurs’ best player this term. And in Ben Davies, the North Londoners have an able back-up, who is young and has shown great ability each time he has been called upon by the manager.
There are no questions over Shaw’s talents and potential, but the former Southampton man has found it hard to make the step up to the next level and hasn’t been helped by the fitness and injury issues either. And if United do decide to sell him in the summer, they will look to recoup most of the £30 million that they spent on signing him from the Saints. Spending such an amount on a player who plays in a position where you already possess two international-level players who have been doing well doesn’t seem the best way forward for Spurs.
However, if a situation arises when either Davies or Rose, who both in the past have been linked with a move away to Manchester City, decide to leave, then a move for Luke Shaw will be worth pursuing. But as of now, Shaw just seems to be a luxury signing and Tottenham will be better off investing the funds in other areas of the pitch.