To stay at Manchester United, Luke Shaw must accept a pay cut similar to Harry Maguire's salary, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to rebuild the squad.

Luke Shaw started all 38 Premier League games for Manchester United last season, making him the sole player with that achievement. Yet, it's well understood by both the club and supporters that this was largely because the team had a single-front campaign, only participating in the league, which even allowed for rest periods of two to three weeks. Should United re-enter European competition next term, it would be astonishing if the 31-year-old left-back maintained such a performance record.

Luke Shaw is entering the final year of his contract, with a different clause structure compared to most of his teammates—there is no club option to extend, meaning he could leave next summer if no new deal is agreed. British media reports indicate the club is leaning towards parting ways with Shaw next year, and if he truly wants a new contract to stay, he will have to accept a salary reduction.

Currently, Shaw earns £190,000 per week, and United will not offer a similar wage in any new deal, given he will be 32 by the start of the 2027/28 season. Owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team are looking to refresh the squad, with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall—a 21-year-old who missed out on England's World Cup squad—on their radar. Fulham's American international Antonee Robinson, at the peak age of 28, is also a candidate.

Luke Shaw could stay, but he would need to accept a significant pay cut, adopting a wage structure similar to Harry Maguire's, who renewed his contract in April. Before his extension, Maguire's salary was comparable to Shaw's, around £200,000 per week. However, the new deal reduces the base wage while increasing performance-related bonuses.

Thanks to United qualifying for the Champions League, if other add-on clauses are triggered, Maguire's actual earnings could exceed last season's. Specifically, his base weekly wage is £150,000, with a maximum of £52,000 per week in bonuses.

Nicknamed the "English Roberto Carlos," Luke Shaw is now the longest-serving player in the Manchester United squad. He joined from Southampton in June 2014 for a then-record £30 million transfer fee. However, his career has been plagued by injuries, and he has made fewer appearances than Bruno Fernandes, who has only been at the club half as long.

In 12 years, Shaw has made just 325 appearances, averaging 27 per season, with six seasons where he featured fewer than 20 times. In contrast, Bruno Fernandes, who joined in February 2020, has already made 327 appearances. Diogo Dalot, United's right-back who arrived in 2018 and was loaned to AC Milan for a season, has effectively been with the club for seven seasons but has already racked up 246 appearances, averaging over 35 per season.

Thus, both Portuguese internationals are "iron men" for United, in stark contrast to Shaw's "glass man" reputation. However, Shaw has two notable traits: he always performs well when a new left-back is signed, and he always shines in the final year of his contract. Last season, he didn't miss any games due to injury, marking the first time in his career he went an entire season without a fitness absence.

Manchester United played only 40 matches last season, but with a return to the Champions League, the fixture list next season will increase by at least 10 games, possibly exceeding 60. Manager Ruben Amorim and the club's hierarchy are skeptical that Shaw can withstand the workload, and United are looking to strengthen the left side of the pitch, prioritizing a left-back over a left winger.

Being left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup might actually be a blessing in disguise for Luke Shaw, allowing him to rest fully and participate in the entire pre-season training and preparation. If he had been at a major tournament, his fitness for the new season would almost certainly have been compromised. Nevertheless, Shaw faces a new challenge—fighting for his future. Will his "survival mode" be triggered once again? Fans can look forward to finding out.