Antonio Conte will be frustrated with his side’s performance this season. Just a year after lifting the Premier League trophy, Chelsea are struggling to find a place in the top 4 this season which might also cost the Italian manager his job.
But that has not stopped the club from scouting for players who can improve the squad and one name now doing the rounds is Manchester United ace, Luke Shaw.
Luke Shaw Frustrated With Mourinho
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has once again taken to the media to criticise English full-back Luke Shaw’s performance in the recent FA Cup tie against Brighton and reports from Daily Mail now claim that the manager’s treatment of the player might see his stint at Old Trafford come to an end this summer.
Most clubs in England are expected to make a move for the defender in the transfer window but it is understood that Shaw is a boyhood Chelsea fan and that the Blues are front-runners to land him before the start of the next season. But do they really need him?
Shaw And His Old Trafford Troubles
Having joined the Red Devils back in 2014, interestingly rejecting a chance to play for Jose Mourinho, who was then at Chelsea, the 22-year old who rose to prominence as player Southampton, is still regarded as one of the best full-backs in the country.
He spent three impressive years at St Mary’s before he moved to Manchester, where he is yet to impress the manager and establish himself as a first team starter.
Shaw gives needless fouls away at times but is usually smart in winning the ball back quickly. He is a decent dribbler and a decent crosser, but he is at his best when his team need to sit back and hit the opponents on the counter.
However, his attitude and style of play haven’t impressed Mourinho who has time and again criticised him publicly. He was subbed off at half-time against the Seagulls recently, which may have damaged his relationship with the manager beyond repair.
Do Chelsea Really Need Him?
The Blues have stuck to a 3-4-3 system with wing-backs adding width to the side. Marcos Alonso has been exceptional this season, helping Chelsea at both ends of the field. He stands as one of the best wing-backs in the league and has an able backup in Emerson Palmieri, who only joined the club in the January transfer window.
Both players have different playing styles and complement each other. They’ll give Chelsea enough cover for that left wing-back role. So, Shaw will have to work really hard to break into the first team.
The Englishman’s attributes also do not sit in well in the system at Stamford Bridge, so Shaw is not really a necessity for Chelsea at the moment. But do you think the Blues should not pass this opportunity to sign up an exciting prospect?
