According to reports in The Mirror, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is set to sign a new long-term contract at Old Trafford before the end of the season after winning manager Jose Mourinho over.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 22-year-old has struggled to make an impression under Mourinho since he took charge in the summer of 2016, with the Portuguese boss criticising the left-back on more than one occasion last season.
Shaw found himself well down the pecking order at the beginning of the current campaign too, but he has improved his fitness and worked his way back into the first team, becoming a regular in 2018 so far.
The Mirror says that his recent performances have impressed Mourinho, and even though the player still has 18 months left on his £80,000-a-week contract after the club exercised an option to extend his current deal by a further year, the Red Devils now want to tie him down for even longer on improved terms.
How has Shaw done this season?
The former Southampton man’s contract was due to run out this summer before United activated the option to extend it by another year, and with the 22-year-old finding himself behind Ashley Young, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian in the left-back pecking order at the start of the campaign it seemed as though he would be on his way out.
The England international remained patient though and he was finally handed his first Premier League start of the season in the 1-0 win against Bournemouth at Old Trafford in December – a game in which he picked up the man of the match award.
Shaw has started five of United’s seven fixtures in 2018, and he is beginning to get back to his best by making a positive impact at both ends of the pitch.
Would it be good news for United?
It certainly would be.
While Shaw may not have always been flavour of the month with Mourinho, it is clear that once he gets back to his best following a number of injury problems he can be their first-choice left-back or left wing-back for many years to come.
The 22-year-old is quick, good defensively and offensively, and still has plenty of time left in his career to improve and get even better.