As reported by The Mirror, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has emerged as a surprising transfer target for La Liga giants Barcelona this summer.

What’s the story?

Finding himself on the fringes of Jose Mourinho’s Man United squad for the second season in succession, Luke Shaw’s future at Old Trafford is looking increasingly at risk as we head towards the summer transfer window.

The Mirror report that with just one year left on his contract, Barcelona see him as a good value addition to the left side of their defence, perhaps a surprising target given his inability to impress over the last few seasons.

Rated at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, he does represent good value in an ever-inflating transfer merry-go-round, but is he good enough to play for a team like Barcelona?

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Is he good enough?

You would normally associate Barcelona with the elite of the elite in Europe and Shaw has done little to suggest he is at that level over the last couple of seasons.

There’s a reason why he isn’t in Jose Mourinho’s plans, whether that is fitness or simply ability.

Barcelona may see something in the player that they think allows him to slot into their attacking system, but you’d expect them to take a pass on Shaw when it comes it this summer, who is more likely to end up at a mid-table English Premier League outfit rather than one of the world’s best sides.