Three senior Manchester United players are battling for their futures ahead of 2027, with Luke Shaw in particular danger of leaving Old Trafford.

Ahead of their trip to face Como in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Man United have won just two of their 10 matches in all competitions this season, losing four and drawing four.

While the pressure is growing on Michael Carrick and other options being considered for the role should Red Devils chiefs be forced to sack the 45-year-old, there is also heavy scrutiny over the club's defence.

United put their transfer focus during the summer window on strengthening their central midfield following the exit of Casemiro and the serious injury suffered by Manuel Ugarte at the 2026 World Cup, but it meant they were unable to add any new faces to their backline.

Last summer, the club transformed their attack, this summer they focused on midfield, and it appears the plan was to overhaul the defence in the summer of 2027.

Some are now questioning whether that timeline was too late given the defensive frailties that appear to be present this season, with United conceding two goals each in matches against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton, and three against Brighton and Hove Albion.

They have looked better in recent weeks but there are still big question marks over all of their first-choice defence, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot.

There have been question marks over Dalot's consistency and defensive strength for many years, and it is a similar situation for Shaw too, while the England international has come under further scrutiny because of his various injury issues over the years.

United did look at signing a new left-back in the summer with Lewis Hall and Alejandro Balde both targets, but neither joined.

In the heart of the defence, Lisandro Martinez's long-term future is in doubt after his recent outburst, while the jury is regularly out on Maguire at Old Trafford.

According to TEAMtalk, Shaw is in a different boat to both Martinez and Maguire because there is no option to extend his contract by a further year when it expires at the end of the season.