It’s been over a year since Luke Shaw started a game of football for Manchester United.. Shaw last started for United against Luton Town on February 18, 2024 and, unfortunately, he’s spent more time in the Carrington treatment room than on the pitch in the last 12 months.. Nobody will be more gutted than Shaw, but his body is fragile and moving him on in the summer window might make sense. Shaw has two years remaining on his contract and he celebrates his 30th birthday in July.. If Shaw’s fitness was guaranteed, it wouldn’t even cross the mind of United’s decision-makers to offload him, but his injury record speaks for itself and he won’t become more robust in his 30s.. It’s a great shame that Shaw’s last year has unfolded as it has. He was exceptional for large parts of Erik ten Hag’s tenure and was a revelation when he played at centre-back. Shaw’s quality has never been in question, but his failure to say fit has become impossible to ignore.. Once Shaw picked up a muscle injury against Luton last year, he was absent for the remainder of the season and then represented England at the European Championship in Germany.. However, Shaw picked up a training injury when he reported for pre-season in Manchester and made his first appearance of the current campaign against Ipswich Town on November 24.. That was Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge and Shaw subsequently made another two appearances from the bench against Bodo/Glimt and Everton, only to pick up another “minor” injury.. That “minor” injury kept Shaw out of action throughout December and January, and he now hasn’t started a game for United in 369 days.. Shaw is close to another return from injury.. “It’s hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I’ve had a small setback,” said Shaw in November.. “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I’m absolutely devastated and it’s extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time.. “I understand there is going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all of that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time. But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon to help this club achieve its ambitions this season. Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn’t go unnoticed and I really do appreciate it.”. Shaw has recently returned to training at Carrington. He will be desperate to prove a point when he returns and, more importantly, stay fit. The defender will be aware he is now fighting for his future at Old Trafford, but some will argue the damage has already been done and he must be let go in the summer.. United could bank a reasonable fee for Shaw, given his quality and that his contract expires in 2027, but they will lose power in future negotiations if he spends another season at the club.. Shaw’s stock could rise from now until the end of the season, provided he stays fit and performs, and the summer would be the best chance to cash in. However, if Shaw stays beyond the summer, he will enter the final year of his contract at the end of next season, he’ll be another year older and might have spent more time out with injuries, which means his transfer value would drop.. Knowing when to sell a player hasn’t been United’s strong suit in recent years and they should be considering Shaw’s future.
