Shaw Move In Doubt As United Confirm Evra Contract Extension

Manchester United have confirmed the surprise news this afternoon that Patrice Evra has signed a new one-year contract extension at the club.

The French international’s deal was set to expire at this end of this month and it had been widely reported that the 33-year-old would follow Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in leaving the club this summer.

However, there seems to have been a u-turn following the arrival of Louis van Gaal as the new Man Utd manager as the Red Devils have confirmed this evening on ManUtd.com that Evra will extend his stay at Old Trafford after signing a one-year extension.

It means Evra will continue into his tenth season at United having joined the club in the middle of the 2005/06 season from Monaco. The left-back has been a huge success at the club, making 379 appearances and winning a whole host of honours including five Premier League titles and the Champions League back in 2008.

While it will be a boost to have a player of Evra’s experience around the club, the fact he’s now staying must surely put Luke Shaw’s proposed move to Old Trafford in doubt. The 18-year-old had been widely expected to complete a £30m move to United over the coming weeks after enjoying a sensational season with Southampton.

However, we brought you reports earlier today that claimed Shaw had put a hold on negotiations so he could concentrate on his World Cup commitments with England, which cast some doubt over whether the deal would go through. And now the proposed transfer has been plunged into further doubt with the news that Evra has penned a new deal at United.

There is the possibility that van Gaal will decide to sell Alexander Buttner and still complete a deal for Shaw, in which case it will be interesting to see who the Dutchman selects as his first choice next season.