A surprise contender for the left-back position has popped up this season for our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern, despite all the money spent on full-backs around Europe in recent seasons.

Indeed, Ashley Young has widely impressed our punters since manager Jose Mourinho put him in the left back role, much to the probable annoyance of Luke Shaw and this has led to presumably more spotlight than normal on the former Southampton defender.

Shaw hasn’t enjoyed the best of times at United with him either being injured or lacking that couple of performances to be the main man, while the former Aston Villa man has really stepped up amid a flurry of criticism from the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ for the not-so-lucky Luke.

Shaw’s future looks bleak and uncertain at this point and after a few pints, our locals have had the debate that Old Trafford boss Mourinho has a decision to make very soon, which will impact the player’s future. Shaw has just extended his contract for a further year, but that won’t stop him leaving in the summer, should he choose too.

Our landlord believes he needs to be sold for the good of everybody around, and here are his TWO reasons why…

Confidence

Shaw is clearly playing with no confidence in himself in recent times, less so than ever. Whether it is the fear of getting injured again or the sheer wrath of Mourinho should he have another bad game, it seems to have all piled on top of him. The free-roaming left-back has slowly disappeared into his shell and there is not much coming out of it right now.

The England man needs a fresh start and one that can find the form that earned him the move in the first place from Southampton.

Cash in now

United opted to extend Shaw’s contract by another year, with this in mind, Mourinho should look to cash in on the player now for fear of him running down his contract and leaving for free the following season. If United are to claw even half of what they paid Southampton for him, then the smart move is on a summer move.

United can not afford another season of discontent and low morale hanging around the place.