Shaw ‘happy at Manchester United’ amid exit talk

Manchester United have extended Ecuadorian defender Antonio Valencia’s contract by a year, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. He played in his side’s opening Group C game, a 0-0 draw with Togo on Monday, and is now preparing to face Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday.

That run has seen Jose Mourinho’s men claw their way back in to the top four mix and United can move to within just one point of fourth placed Arsenal with a win tomorrow ahead of the Gunners’ clash with Burnley. Aside from Paul Pogba and Ibrahimovic, Valencia has perhaps been Manchester United’s best player this season.

Mourinho has publicly criticised Shaw on several occasions this season, and it appears the England worldwide is firmly out of favour at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile The Red Devils, who remain unbeaten in the top-flight since October 23, have defender Eric Bailly away on worldwide duty with the Ivory Coast.

The Independent backs up claims of Mourinho’s frustration at Shaw’s stalled development.

United visit Stoke on Saturday on a 16-game unbeaten run but Mourinho insists that he would rather go for a win and risk losing than play safe just to preserve the record. “I’m very happy here because it is such a great club”.

Mark Hughes found the right formula and the Potters are now sitting and ninth place with only two points below eight-placed WBA and their season keeps looking better and better.

“I always think the best time is the summer market”.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says that he regards Antonio Valencia as the best right-back in the world.

Arindam is ESPN FC’s Manchester United correspondent.

“Making my first competitive game back from injury was the highlight of the year for me”.

A brace from Marko Arnautovic saw the Austrian net only his second and third goals of the campaign – his first since September – with the 27 year-old hoping to enjoy a more productive second half of the season.