Man Utd are reportedly eyeing a move for Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney as Luke Shaw edges closer to the exit door at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old was publicly slammed by Jose Mourinho again at the weekend, leading to further question marks being raised over his future at the club.
With the Portuguese tactician essentially insisting that the England international had fallen way down the pecking order, speculation linking United with a move for Tierney just days later will come as a hammer blow for Shaw.
The former Southampton man has played just 70 minutes of Premier League football since the end of October, and it doesn’t look as though it will be easy to change his current position.
According to The Mirror, Mourinho sees the 19-year-old Celtic starlet as United’s long-term solution at left-back, and the £10m-rated ace has impressed under Brendan Rodgers this season while time is evidently on his side to improve and develop his game further.
Valued at around £10m, United are said to be prepared to go higher if necessary to prise him away from the Scottish champions, with Rodgers likely to demand more to allow one of his top prospects to leave the club.
Tierney has already been capped three times by Scotland and is said to be of interest to Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea too, but it looks as though United will strike first as they look to put an end to their troubles at left-back and replace Shaw who could be given an escape route this summer.
It’s even added that the Red Devils have done extensive work on the player, in that they are already aware of his lifestyle and work ethic and believe that he will fit in perfectly under Mourinho and buy into the culture at the club to become a top player at the highest level.