Manchester United make Luke Shaw decision amid uncertain future

Manchester United have plenty of decisions to make at the back as they plan on reshaping Michael Carrick’s defence.

The club focused heavily on midfield during the summer, but left-back remained one of the positions where United did not get the reinforcement they wanted.

That was partly down to the availability of Luke Shaw, who has remained an important figure despite the setbacks that have interrupted his career at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw arrived from Southampton in 2014 and has since become United’s current longest-serving player, passing 300 appearances for the club and collecting the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup during his time in Manchester.

His career has also been marked by some significant injury problems, including the double leg fracture that ruled him out for most of the 2015/16 season and lengthy spells on the sidelines in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Shaw has missed more than four and a half years through injury since making his professional debut.

Yet last season represented a major change, with Shaw starting all 38 Premier League matches as United finished third and secured Champions League football under Carrick.

Manchester United make Luke Shaw decision amid uncertain future

Now, Manchester United are increasingly confident that Shaw will remain at Old Trafford beyond the end of the season, with the club preparing to hold talks over a new contract, as reported by Football Insider.

The 31-year-old is currently due to become a free agent next summer, but United want to find an agreement rather than allow one of their most experienced defenders to walk away.

That represents a notable change from the expectations surrounding Shaw earlier in the year, when his contract situation and injury record made his long-term future considerably less certain.

United had already recognised the need for greater protection at left-back during the summer.

Lewis Hall was their preferred target for much of the window, but Newcastle rejected their approaches and subsequently tied the England international down to a new contract.

Hall was not the only option considered, either.

United also monitored Alejandro Balde, while Antonee Robinson, Myles Lewis Skelly and David Raum were among the other names linked with the position at various stages.

In the end, no specialist left-back arrived, leaving Shaw as the senior natural option while Patrick Dorgu continued to be viewed more as an attacking player and Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui provided alternative cover.

That does not mean United have abandoned their plans to recruit another left-back.

Instead, the club could now look to add competition for Shaw while keeping the experienced England international around as part of the squad.