Manchester United are prepared to offer Luke Shaw a new contract after his impressive resurgence under Michael Carrick, but the defender may have to accept a significant pay cut to remain at Old Trafford.
Shaw enjoyed one of the best seasons of his Manchester United career during the 2025/26 campaign, playing a crucial role in the club’s remarkable turnaround following Michael Carrick’s appointment.
The former England midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim midway through the season and successfully guided United to a third-place Premier League finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
While Carrick received much of the praise for the revival, Shaw emerged as one of the team’s most important and consistent performers.
For years, the left-back’s quality was never in doubt, but persistent injury problems prevented him from establishing himself as a reliable presence in the side. Last season, however, the 30-year-old finally managed to stay fit throughout the campaign.
Shaw became one of only five Manchester United players in the Premier League era to start all 38 league matches in a single season, underlining his importance to Carrick’s plans.
His performances helped solidify United’s defence and re-established him as one of the Premier League’s leading full-backs.
Despite his outstanding campaign, Shaw was surprisingly left out of England’s World Cup squad by manager Thomas Tuchel.
Manchester United are now eager to secure his future, with Shaw entering the final year of his current contract.
According to reports, the club are keen to avoid losing such an experienced player on a free transfer next summer and have begun considering a new agreement.
However, any extension is expected to come with reduced terms.
Shaw currently earns around £200,000 per week, but United are not expected to offer him a contract on the same salary.
The club’s new wage structure has already seen several senior players asked to make financial compromises, with Harry Maguire reportedly accepting a similar arrangement when he signed his latest deal earlier this year.
United believe Shaw’s age and injury history make it difficult to justify maintaining his current salary, despite his excellent performances last season.
Whether Shaw is prepared to accept a reduced wage remains unclear, but remaining at Old Trafford could provide him with the opportunity to continue playing a key role under Carrick while helping mentor the next generation of defenders.
At 30, Shaw still has plenty to offer, and his experience could prove invaluable as United continue rebuilding a squad capable of challenging for major honours.
For now, negotiations are expected to continue, with both parties hopeful an agreement can be reached before Shaw enters the final months of his current deal.
