The Times have claimed that out-of-favour left-back Luke Shaw has rejected a move to Goodison this summer in order to see out his contract at Old Trafford. With the calibre of left-backs linked with Everton this window mixed with Shaw’s poor attitude and fitness, this is probably the best for both parties. Despite once being touted as the best young left-back in Europe who then made the big money move to United, Shaw has struggled for fitness during his time in Manchester and combining this with a long-term injury, Shaw’s career is unlikely to reach the lofty heights that his original potential promised.
Some of the more persistent links with a replacement for Leighton Baines include Lucas Digne of Barcelona, Jordan Lukaku of Lazio, Marvin Plattenhardt of Hertha Berlin and Wendell of Bayer Leverkusen. As a young full-back emerging onto the scene at Southampton as yet another fruitful product of their academy, Shaw had the world at his feet and accepted a move appealing to any which turned out to be one of the biggest transfer flops in recent history. Despite how painful it is to see yet another top English talent that should’ve become one of the best in the league falling down the pecking order after turning his back on his academy, without mentioning any particular names; Everton should not be a club of second chances if we are to mix with the elite. We should only be aiming for top quality players who deserve a move to Goodison and not hoping that a player who has struggled for fitness and demonstrated a poor attitude on several occasions will ‘come good’.
As I originally said, it is probably the best for both parties that Shaw has allegedly rejected a move to Merseyside as it is difficult to see him getting back on his feet in the league. Despite the fact that back in 2014, any Evertonian would’ve jumped at the chance to sign Shaw, his form never followed him from St Mary’s and Everton should be looking at alternative prospects to replace Leighton Baines.
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