Manchester United are preparing to hand left-back Luke Shaw a lucrative new contract for his outstanding form this season.
The 25-year-old has endured a tricky few years at Old Trafford and appeared to be facing an uphill battle to save his career when United splashed out around £20m on Brazilian Alex Telles last summer, but Shaw has responded by playing some of the best football of his career.
His electric form, which has also earned him a recall to the England squad, has made Shaw one of the first names on the team sheet, and according to the Daily Star, United are ready to reward Shaw for his bounce back.
Shaw’s current deal, which has two years left to run, is worth around £150,000-a-week, but United are prepared to take that up towards the £190,000-a-week mark after seeing him blossom into one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.
With 40 appearances in all competitions, Shaw has been Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s clear favourite for the left-back spot, and the Englishman’s dominance in the starting lineup is said to have left Telles feeling more than a little frustrated with his situation.
Telles was chased by some of the game’s biggest teams last summer but eventually settled on United, where he was expected to become the undisputed starter, but Shaw’s good form has forced the Brazilian to accept just seven Premier League appearances this year.
Some questionable reports in Italy suggested that Telles could be used in a swap deal for Juventus’ Alex Sandro, while Portuguese outlet Record claimed that the 28-year-old could be offered to Sporting CP in exchange for young defender Nuno Mendes.
18-year-old Mendes comes with a £65m release clause but could be available for closer to £35m, and offering Telles in exchange could drive that fee down even more.
On top of Shaw’s contract, United must also decide on the futures of a handful of players whose deals are set to expire at the end of the season.
Goalkeepers Lee Grant and Sergio Romero could both walk away, while Spanish midfielder Juan Mata and striker Edinson Cavani are both facing uncertain futures as well.
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