Why A Swap Deal Involving Shaw And Rose Would Benefit Both Tottenham and Manchester United
According to the Sun, Tottenham Hotspur have demanded that Manchester United pay £40m and send Luke Shaw in the other direction in order for the Red Devils to sign Danny Rose in the summer.
Mauricio Pochettino is reluctant to let go of Rose but would consider doing business with United if Shaw is a part of the deal.
On the other hand, Jose Mourinho is an admirer of Rose and remains keen on upgrading both the full-back positions to increase United’s prospects of mounting a challenge.
That said, should United spend £40m plus Shaw to sign Rose at the end of the season?
Luke Shaw, who joined United from Southampton with a lot of fanfare, is still far from his best since suffering a horrific double leg fracture in 2015.
Mourinho has shown tough love and has singled out Shaw on a number of occasions since taking charge of United in 2016. It is clear that Mourinho has lost faith in Shaw and the England international must leave Old Trafford for his own good. Should a swap deal with Rose be considered, Shaw must accept moving to Tottenham to work under Pochettino again.
“He made me feel that I was the best,” Shaw said in Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs, as quoted by the Sun.
“I do hope that I can play for him again one day, and I think he really wants me to play under him again.”
Pochettino worked with Shaw for 18 months at Southampton and the player’s reward was a place in England’s 2014 World Cup squad and a transfer to Manchester United. However, things haven’t gone according to Shaw’s plans at Old Trafford. However, he is just 22 and has plenty of time on his side to improve and showcase his real talent.
Meanwhile, at Tottenham, Pochettino’s relationship with Rose has appeared strained for some time. Of course, Rose is the one to blame for, after his fiery interview last year that saw him question Spurs’ ambitions.
Since the interview, Rose has found himself in and out of the team, although injuries have played a bigger part this season. As things stand, Rose, who is peaking right now, is second-choice to Ben Davies at left-back. Davies may be reliable and solid but he cannot match the aggression and determination with which Rose plays every time.
A swap deal appears to suit both the parties. While Mourinho always loves a workhorse at left-back, Pochettino is used to working with younger players to iron out their weaknesses and nurture their talent.
A swap deal makes a lot of sense. Rose would get a new lease of life while Shaw, on the other hand, will also get a clean slate to kick-start his career under Pochettino, the manager who helped him gain fame at Southampton.