David Moyes and Manchester United have apparently confirmed they are ready to make Southampton left back Luke Shaw the most expensive teenager in the English game. Shaw has made a huge name for himself playing up and down the left flank for the Saints which deservedly honoured him his first England cap in a recent 1-0 victory over Denmark at Wembley.
The search for a gifted left back is a difficult position to fill, with Manchester United looking for a long term replacement for the aging Patrice Evra. Chelsea are also said to be on the hunt to replace Ashley Cole, whose game time has been limited this season.
Further interest has seen Tottenham Hotspur making enquiries but it seems the tussle for the south-west London born teen may be too hot for the Lilywhites to handle.
Shaw's progression story:
Since his first senior performance for Southampton in 2012, the 18-year-old has made fifty appearances for the south coast club, making a swift promotion from the youth-side which has produced some of most talented players the country has ever seen. Matt Le Tissier, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana just to name a few.
At 16, Shaw was already attracting interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City when Southampton featured in the Championship. His value of £4 million in 2012 will substantially increase in the summer, should clubs line up in demand for the youngster who is expected to compete against Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines for their spots in Roy Hodgson's 23-man World Cup squad flying to Brazil.
Chelsea remained in the running in 2013 with reported outside chance move for around £10 million which was rejected by the Saints. A £15 million offer was allegedly put on the table by Tottenham Hotspur shortly after but Shaw decided to pledge his loyalty to the club his has played for since the age of eight.
Will it be Manchester United?
Manchester United are unlikely to make a return bid for Everton left back Leighton Baines following successive rejections from David Moyes former employers. However, Shaw's emergence has seen gross interest from the Premier League champions as they look to spend their £100 million plus transfer kitty this summer. Shaw has been added as a prime target for the Red Devils as Moyes will look to shore up his leaky defence.
How much will he cost?
Southampton have managed to tie Shaw down on a long-term five-year deal but the Hampshire based side are renowned to be a selling club. Supposedly this is how a club that plays the game correctly and develops from within, eventually has to give in due the larger businesses willing to pay the money for Southampton's high performers.
Shaw will probably now cost in excess of £20-25 million, whilst his wages will considerably increase beyond the Saints weekly bill. The youngster is likely to be targeted alongside a number of Southampton players this summer with Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Jay Rodriguez all being followed by scouts across the top seven teams.
What to look out for in Shaw:
His style of play has most notably caught the eye. In defence he is a strong tackler and tends not to lose his man but on the left hand side his tendency sees him darting down the wing in an attacking format, recalling the attributes of Real Madrid's Gareth Bale with his searing pace and willing to swing a cross in. Particular focus has also been put on his movement, decision making and dribbling, whilst being strong in defence; his intelligence and maturity demonstrate a strong individual who is likely to go onto bigger and better things, hence a transfer to one of his admirers.
