Manchester United have continued to keep an eye on Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam ahead of the summer despite Luke Shaw‘s recent resurgence in form, according to reports from Italy.
Jose Mourinho has been on the lookout for a left-back since the summer, with Danny Rose and Alex Sandro both emerging as potential targets.
Reports last month claimed that Man United had been given the green light to move for Ghoulam, who has a release clause of £53m, after Napoli lined up a deal to sign Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo as a replacement.
And despite Mourinho’s recent high praise of Shaw’s return to form in a red shirt, Italian media outlet Il Mattino has claimed that United remain keen on securing the Algerian’s services.
Shaw’s recent displays have been hugely uplifting – an example, above anything, of the individual’s capacity to climb out of the deepest of gutters – but should be looked at with caution.
To see the Englishman performing again is good to see but United will suffer the consequences if they go on to conclude that reinforcements in that area aren’t needed.
United remain desperately short at full-back, with ageing pair Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia still largely propping up that role, and the arrival of a player like Ghoulam – among others – would serve as a step in the right direction.