Manchester United are determined to land Southampton defender Luke Shaw and are ready to go to any extreme to secure his services.
According to reports from The Times, Manchester United will meet Southampton’s £30m valuation of the 18-year-old and the fee could rise to £34m based on clauses relating to future appearances and success.
United had tabled a £27m bid for Shaw last month, with a contract worth £100,000 a week, but it was rejected. Should the new offer be accepted, Shaw would become one of the most expensive defenders in history.
Certainly he will be the most expensive teenager ever to have played in the Premier League. And it will eclipse the £33m fee, paid by Sir Alex Ferguson to sign Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United in 2002.
Shaw is mainly seen as a long-term prospect and will compete with Patrice Evra, who has signed a new one-year-deal, for the left-back role at Old Trafford. Another United left-back Alex Buttner is expected to join Russian outfit Dynamo Moscow.
Shaw came through the prestigious Southampton academy that had produced so many top players over the years. The Saints however could face a tough fight to hold on to their skipper Adam Lallana, who is a reported target of Liverpool. However, like Shaw, they are likely to command a huge transfer fee in the region of £30m for the England international.
Shaw is expected to play his first World Cup match against Costa Rica today. He will become the second youngest player to appear for England at a World Cup finals, behind Michael Owen.
Well, Manchester United had shown in the past that they could go to any extreme to secure their top target. But, one cannot help but wonder, are they not overpaying for Shaw? Without disrespecting the player’s talent, what has he done really to command such a transfer fee? Share your thoughts below.
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