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Luke Shaw rewarded for becoming a vital cog at Manchester United

Luke Shaw of Manchester United applauds the fans at the end of the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford - Getty Images/Ash Donelon
Luke Shaw of Manchester United applauds the fans at the end of the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford - Getty Images/Ash Donelon

Manchester United are on the brink of agreeing a new long-term deal for Luke Shaw after the England full-back has established himself as a key player for Erik ten Hag.

Shaw, 27, has one season left on his deal at Old Trafford but talks have progressed and sources at Old Trafford expect his future to be committed to the club.

United are also in ongoing discussions with Marcus Rashford and David de Gea over new deals. Rashford also has one year left and says the club and himself have been respectful over the situation. As revealed by Telegraph Sport earlier this season, United have wavered on triggering De Gea’s one-year extension on a deal worth more than £300,000 a week but he could agree different terms to stay beyond the summer.

Shaw’s future is now more certain and he will be part of their push to add the FA Cup and Europa League to their Carabao Cup triumph this season. Ten Hag has picked Shaw in every Premier League game since October, with the left-back playing his part in turning the campaign around and putting United within sight of a cup treble.

Shaw's turnaround in fortunes at United

On a personal level, Shaw’s United career has seen him fight back after he was publicly targeted by Jose Mourinho in post-match interviews. Following a 1-1 draw against Everton in April 2017, Mourinho said of Shaw: “It was his body with my brain – he was in front of me and I was making every decision for him."

Shaw said in 2021: “He likes some, he doesn’t like others and I fell into the category where he didn’t like me. I tried as hard as I could to get back on to his side but it never worked out, no matter what I did.

“There is no hiding that we didn’t get on. I think he was a brilliant manager but, you know, the past is the past. It is time to move on. I am trying to move on but, obviously, he can’t.

“He continuously talks about me, which I find quite strange."

Shaw battled his way back into Mourinho’s plans before the Portuguese coach’s dismissal in December 2018, then was a senior player under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag. He has been Gareth Southgate’s first-choice left back and was singled out for praise by the England manager for staying with the squad after his red card against Italy during the international break, rather than going back to United as he was suspended to face Ukraine.

Ten Hag will look at how to use Shaw best in their busy upcoming schedule, with two legs against Sevilla in the Europa and the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton. Manchester United are next in action at Newcastle on Sunday in a pivotal match in the battle for the top four, with Eddie Howe's side three points behind Ten Hag's men. The match marks the start of a busy period for United, who play nine games in April across three competitions.