Casemiro may have announced his imminent exit Manchester UnitedThere are plenty of other futures at Old Trafford to sort out though before a potentially seismic summer arrives.

Harry Maguire, for example, has yet to sign a new deal as his contract is set to expire, and the Englishman’s recent injury setbacks may have cast his hopes of an extension into doubt.

The 32-year-old is a real strength and leader for this team at his best – starting each of the last five games – but has often proven unreliable due to numerous stops on the treatment table.

This is also a common theme for everyone Luke ShawHe has also spent almost 12 years in Manchester and the 30-year-old is fortunate to be injury-free for the 2025/26 season, but that should not stop his own future being called into question.

Why Luke Shaw still needs to be sold this summer

Amazingly, the teenage Shaw burst onto the scene at the Theater of Dreams in the summer of 2014 and has since been tested by a series of managers before overcoming a horrific leg fracture in September 2015 that likely ended his career.

It’s a credit to his ability to push on from setback after setback that the long-serving left-back enjoyed something of a renaissance in 2025/26, starting all 26 Premier League games – the only player in the United squad to do so.

Having said that, with less than 18 months left on his contract, now might be the best time to cash in on the full-back this summer, with the switch to a back four highlighting his recent shortcomings.

Against West Ham, for example, Shaw was harshly treated by England team-mate Jarrod Bowen while failing to deal with a bouncing ball, resulting in the home side’s opener of the night.

More worryingly, the sight of Shaw bombing down the left flank to support his wingers, as he often did in the pomp and circumstance alongside Marcus Rashford, has become less common, instead often seen turning back and slowing down when United are in advantage.

In an era where the likes of Nuno Mendes are leading the way The best left back in the worldBy comparison, Shaw’s relative lack of pace and mobility is a real issue, and his offensive impact has been rather limited, with just one assist and one “great chance” created all season.

The quality of his recent games has been consistent, but if United and Ineos are serious about continuing next season, Shaw should be one of those given a warm farewell this summer.

In fact, the send-off will be made much easier considering his potential replacement is already in the building.

Manchester United have signed ‘teenage Rooney’ to replace Shaw

One of Ineos’ biggest concerns is that this United side is not getting its money’s worth, with a host of the club’s highest-paid players repeatedly plagued by injuries, whether that be Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount, Maguire or Shaw.

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The departures of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho last summer showed that the new regime is not afraid to be ruthless with the club’s more high-profile talents, and Shaw could become another victim this time around.

As mentioned above, this process could be expedited given that United have the perfect in-house replacement and Ineos already signed 18-year-old starlet Diego Leon last year.

With Patrick Dorgu operating on the left wing before injury, and former Bomb Squad member Tyrell Malacia set to leave on a free transfer this summer, Leon is free to operate at full-back.

It seems a bold claim for a player who has not actually made a first-team appearance, although reports suggest United believe the Paraguayan is ahead of schedule, ensuring no decision has been made yet on what to do on the left wing heading into the summer.

Signed from Portnoy Hill for a reported fee of around £6 million, Leon has regularly featured for the U21 side in recent months, scoring a memorable solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season.

A natural full-back or wing-back, the Paraguay international, who has made just one appearance for the club, could provide a greater attacking threat than Shaw if deployed on the left, having scored four goals in 33 senior games for his former club.

There’s an explosive, powerful quality to Leon’s game that’s certainly attractive, with analyst Ben Martinson stressing that he “Runs like a steam train”, such is his athleticism.

South American scenery, Paraguayan football expert Ralph Hannaeven bears some resemblance to a young Wayne Rooney, mapping the Englishman into a real physical specimen:

At a time when there was almost a sense that Shaw might be at work within himself, that fear could really break out with real regularity, Leon’s youthful entrance might represent some kind of sea change.

His recent youth team outing against Derby County showcased the full range of the teenager’s abilities, often providing an outlet at left-back, with much of his play being built around the forwards, progressive passes or breaks to support the man in front of him.

The nature of this tumultuous season, combined with an early exit and lack of European competition, has certainly hampered Leon’s hopes of first-team game time, although this summer could mark a change of pace at the back at Old Trafford after quiet, gradual progress in the academy.

At his best, Shaw has been a fine servant for the Red Devils, although there is still a lingering feeling that he has now fallen out of favor.

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