Everton want to rescue Luke Shaw from Premier League rivals Manchester United, but so do La Liga and Champions League giants Barcelona.
Everton’s pursuit of a long-term successor for Leighton Baines appears to have taken them to Luke Shaw.
As reported by ESPN, the Toffees sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old make a rare start for Manchester United in their 2-0 FA Cup win against Brighton this month, before he was subbed off at the break and torn down publicly by manager Jose Mourinho, again, that is.
But in the last two days, Everton’s hopes of luring Shaw to Goodison Park in the summer have become far more difficult.
First, the Sun claimed that United wanted £28 million for their out-of-favour left-back ,almost exactly the same fee they paid Southampton four years ago when Shaw was one of the nation’s most promising young talents.
And the Mirror is now claiming that none other than La Liga giants Barcelona have suddenly joined the race for a player currently behind Ashley Young in the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Barca are understood to want a new left-back to provide competition for Jordi Alba with the French international Lucas Digne not quite at the level required. And Ernesto Valverde’s side are reported to be preparing a bid for what would be one of the summer’s most eye-catching transfers.
So not only would Everton have to part with a fee that would make the ailing Shaw the fourth most expensive signing in their history, they will have to beat Barcelona, too.
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