Jose Mourinho has all but confirmed that Luke Shaw’s Manchester United career is over and a number of clubs are already being linked but Tottenham are favourites to land the England full-back.
Shaw, 21, has suffered a frustrating time at Old Trafford since his move from Southampton in 2014 for around £30million and he has not yet played 30 league games for the club.
He suffered a double leg break in 2015 which seriously hampered his progress, but despite being back to fitness – he has started just seven games this season.
Shaw has not featured for nearly a month, and for Saturday’s draw with West Brom – he did not even make the bench with inexperienced youngsters Axel Tuanzebe, and Matty Willock picked ahead of him.
And Mourinho was quick to confirm that Shaw’s attitude in training was the reason he was not involved.
“It is difficult for him to be on the bench,” said the United boss.
“I cannot compare him with Ashley Young, with Matteo Darmian, with Daley Blind. I cannot compare the way he trains, the way he commits, the focus, the ambition. I cannot compare. He is a long way behind.”
Now a host of clubs are being linked with possible moves for Shaw, although our Football Insider Graeme Bailey believes he could yet have a future at Manchester United.
“Clearly at the moment, he is not doing what is expected of him and is way down the pecking order and now Mourinho has called him out in public, it doesn’t look good for him,” Bailey told us.
“But it isn’t necessarily over – look at how Henrik Mkhitaryan fought back to become a hugely important player, but it won’t be easy for Shaw and he could very well be sold on this summer if an offer comes in.”
BetVictor make Tottenham favourites to land Shaw at 4/1, their head of ante post football Michael Triffitt said; “Luke Shaw has seen his career with both Manchester United and England derailed due to injury and it may be that the player moves to pastures new this summer to reignite himself.
“If Tottenham were to lose Danny Rose they may well come calling and we make the North London outfit 4/1 favourites in our opening show. Stoke and Crystal Place have been linked and are 6/1 whilst ambitious Newcastle, who will hope to be back in the top tier next term, are 8/1.”