Luke Shaw Rated At £40m - Why Manchester United Face A Big Decision

Luke Shaw now has two years of Premier League experience under his belt despite his tender age of 18.  He will celebrate his 19^th birthday shortly after he returns from representing England at the World Cup.  Even without ever seeing him play, those two sentences should tell anyone of the young left-back’s enormous potential.

Previously linked with a move away from Southampton to one of the Premier League’s elite teams, the Daily Mail are reporting that new Saints manager Ronald Koeman has stuck a £40m price tag on the defender.  This news will come as a shock to Manchester United, who it was suggested had been looking to tie up a deal for around £10m less.

Despite his youth, Shaw is not a player teams should be looking at solely as a future prospect, with the increased fee Southampton are suggested to be demanding confirmation of that.  Wherever he is playing next season, be it at St Mary’s or elsewhere, he should be a regular starter.  Patrice Evra’s recent contract extension would suggest that may not be the case at United.

Having been named in the PFA Team of the Year last season, Shaw must now continue to build momentum, something which he can only do by playing matches.  There is no doubt he will take this into consideration when deciding where his future lies.

At £40m, anyone who coughs up the cash must be confident of putting England’s latest left-back straight into their starting lineup.

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