Why Manchester United’s Luke Shaw Would Be Perfect For Tottenham Hotspur
Following another bust-up with boss Jose Mourinho, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw is almost certain to exit Old Trafford in the summer. The fullback was hauled off at half-time and was criticised by his manager after the game. After that, he involved himself in a training ground quarrel.
Earlier in November too, he was denigrated by the Portuguese mastermind, who claimed that the defender needed a ‘better understanding’ of the game. Now, knowing his potential, many clubs are in the race for his signature, including Tottenham Hotspur. Others interested are Chelsea and Everton.
More On The Player
At the mere age of eight, Luke Shaw started his career with Southampton. In the 2013-2014 season, he was shortlisted for the PFA Young player of the year award. He impressed that season and caught the attention of Manchester United, who signed him in the same year. He has also been capped seven times by the national side.
Pacy and trenchant, Luke Shaw is one of the best attack-minded full-backs in the Premier League. Justifiably, he has been compared to former Southampton academy player Gareth Bale, who was a threatening full-back, especially while getting forward.
The £70,000-a-week Englishman can beat opposition right-backs, get forward with precision and optimism to deliver some top quality crosses. Defensively, his game sparkles in a stretched out defence (three-man or a five-man), more than a flat one. He tracks opposition’s runs quite well, is physical and well-built, wins aerial duels, reads passes and is rather perceptive and sharp-sighted.
Is He A Good Addition?
Surely. Given Danny Rose’s poor form, which is amalgamated with inconsistency and injuries of late, it is the smartest thing to do. To replace a left-back with another of the same style and stature is a good deal, especially when the replacement is bright, young, fresher and energetic.
On a personal note, a reunion with beloved boss Mauricio Pochettino would be a fantastic change in Shaw’s career. In a book named ‘Brave World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs’, the fullback claimed,
“I think with Southampton he achieved the impossible. We were one of the best footballing teams in the league. I do hope that I can play for him again one day. And I think he really wants me to play under him again.
“He used to call me his son, that’s how good our relationship was. I’ve had lots of ups and downs, but when I was with Pochettino it was only ever up, up, up.”
Pochettino surely knows how to extract the best out of youth and as seen earlier, he was the one who brought a young Luke Shaw to the limelight. Many would argue that the quality would go down in the left-back zone but Ben Davies and Luke Shaw would form a fine duo, both capable of becoming one of the best if they insert continuity and consistency into their game.