At a glance
- Manchester United have long-standing interest in left-back
- No offer currently on table
- Luke Shaw’s contract expires in 2027
German football journalist Christian Falk has dropped a transfer bombshell that could see Manchester United consider replacing Luke Shaw at left-back. The English defender has enjoyed a fine season but his long-term future is uncertain.
Falk has suggested (via CaughtOffside) that United are interested in signing ‘world-class’ Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. Over the years, the Reds have been routinely linked with the Canadian international.
On his day, Davies has proven he can be the best in the world in his position. He has fallen away from that calibre in the last season or two, with injury playing a key part in that.
Falk on United’s interest
In his column, Falke discussed the situation: “They [Man United] were at the table when questions were being asked as to whether he would sign a new contract at Bayern Munich. They’re still monitoring this player, but he’s, of course, since signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena, so it will be difficult to get him at the moment.
However, he did not shut the door on United looking at the player again in the future. The German said: “However, if there were an offer on the table (and don’t forget it cost Bayern a lot of money to extend Davies), there would be a discussion,”
But I can say right now that there has yet to be a concrete offer from Manchester United. If there’s an offer, perhaps Bayern will consider it, as the injuries keep coming.”
Dorgu could challenge Shaw
Luke Shaw’s extended injury record in his time at the club has seen many left-backs come and go – but he remains. No one has quite matched his quality on the pitch, despite being in and out of the team.
Patrick Dorgu is the latest competitor that the England left-back has faced. Unfortunately, the Dane suffered an injury in Carrick’s second game against Arsenal.
The injury struck as soon as he hit hot form for United. However, he played further out on the left wing, with Carrick utilising his aggressiveness there rather than exclusively at left-back.
The Danish winger is expected to return after the international break, which is a boost for the team. Matheus Cunha has excelled in Dorgu’s absence, so the United boss could be forced to move him back to left-back.
Shaw has played at centre-back for different United managers in the past, but it is not something that Carrick favours. He signed a new four-year contract in 2023 to stay with United until 2027.
With his contract expiring next summer, the United board is at a crossroads: keep him, reduce the wage bill, or outright replace him with another superstar at left-back. It is at that point that Davies could come back into the equation for the Old Trafford side.
Davies did not feature at all during the start of the season, as he was recovering from an ACL injury. A torn muscle fibre and hamstring injuries have ruled him out of other games. It has restricted him to just 357 minutes in the Bundesliga in 2025/26.
The injury record could look better a season down the line, but it would feel fairly risky to move for the player right now. Shaw has similarly endured injury problems throughout his career.
