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Former BBC pundit Noel Whelan has backed Everton in their reported pursuit of Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw.
The Lowdown: Lampard keen
It was reported earlier this week that Frank Lampard remains keen on signing Shaw, after having talks to try and sign him in the summer.
The England international’s contract expires next summer, so he could sign for a cut-price in the January transfer window, or as a free agent at the end of the season.
The Latest: Shaw move backed
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has claimed that having Shaw in the back four next to Conor Coady and James Tarkowski would be ‘massive’ for the Goodison Park outfit, and even went as far as to say that they would be ‘foolish’ not to sign him:
“If it’s a free transfer then you’re getting him for almost nothing, it’s just wages.
“It’d be a good deal if it happens that way because it’s rare you get players of his quality for free.
“He’s got that experience; he’s been in big changing rooms – and to have him next to Tarkowski and Coady would be massive.
“It’s hard to turn down quality players like Shaw when they’re available for a bargain like that.
“They’d be foolish if they didn’t do everything they can to get him through the door.”
The Verdict: No-brainer
Given that Ruben Vinagre is only at the Merseyside club on loan, Shaw would provide some quality long-term competition to Vitaliy Mykolenko in the left-back position.
Once dubbed a ‘machine’ by Lampard himself, he has made over 200 senior appearances for Manchester United and has been capped 23 times by the England national team (Transfermarkt), highlighting his experience of playing at the highest level.
He is set to play for the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and on a free transfer, it is surely a no-brainer for the Toffees to get a deal done if they can.
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