Luke Shaw’s future under new boss Jose Mourinho seems to be in some doubt after the defender was left out in the last Premier League game against West Ham despite being fit and it has given rise to several speculations in the media. Crystal Palace are one such club who are reportedly monitoring the situation of the 21-year old with some interest.
This season, there have been some incidents which seemed to be particularly odd for a good working relationship between the player and the manager. Shaw was singled out by Mourinho for his part in Watford’s second goal in the 3-1 defeat at Vicarage Road in September.
The 21-year-old’s attitude was also questioned by the United manager following his alleged refusal to make himself available for the 3-1 victory over Swansea City earlier this month. The open criticism took the player by surprise and it has given rise to some claims of United’s Portuguese manager holding a grudge against the player for his actions in the past.
Shaw was wanted by Mourinho during his second stint in charge of Chelsea but the England international opted to join Manchester United in a £30 million deal from Southampton. Metro reports that Mourinho might still be bitter over the snub by the former Southampton player which happened two years ago.
Since his move to Old Trafford, Shaw has managed to play only 28 games in the Premier League in 29 months as he suffered a hamstring injury in his first season and a double leg fracture in the second season. The injuries made it hard for the player to hit the heights he achieved in his previous club and frankly with the pressure to perform even better than he did for the Saints, after his huge £30m transfer fee, the fullback failed to justify the fee United paid for him.
In all likeliness, a move away from United can be the move the player needs to get his career back on track. Crystal Palace is a decent option from that angle.
A club where he won’t be under huge pressure with a guarantee of continuous game time, a move to the Eagles can be a win-win situation for both parties involved. However, it is understood that Shaw has no intention of leaving United on loan and wants to establish himself as the first-choice left-back under Mourinho. He may re-assess the situation in the summer if it does not improve but remains committed to the club.
