According to reports from the Daily Mirror Arsene Wenger is set to return to Southampton to sign their latest star prodigy having already recruited both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The latest Saints name to be linked to Arsenal is 17-year-old left-back Luke Shaw, whose form and potential have seen him likened to Gareth Bale.
The youngster is an attacking full back in the same style as Bale started out with similarly blistering pace, and an eye for both goals and assists, thanks to his good set piece delivery. He scored three times from left back in Southampton’s Under-18 team, and has been promoted to the Saints first team squad in time for their return to the top flight this coming season.
Shaw has already been linked to Champions League winners Chelsea as a potential long-term successor to Ashley Cole, but Arsene Wenger seems likely to test the Saints’ resolve to keep him with a bid. The highly rated left-back hasn’t actually made his league debut for the club yet, but he did make his Southampton debut in January in the FA Cup tie against Millwall.
The Daily Mail have previously suggested a fee of around £4m would be enough to secure Shaw’s services, but any interested party would do well to move quickly before he becomes an established figure in the first-team and his value shoots up dramatically.
Wenger is set to continue his trend of signing developmental talents, to combat a situation like last season which saw his full-back options badly hit by injuries with Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs all suffering injuries over the course of the season, and squad players Johan Djourou and Frances Coquelin being forced to step in.
At this stage Southampton aren’t under pressure to sell and indeed both Manager Nigel Adkins and chairman Nicola Cortese have insisted that Shaw is not for sale. Their position is strengthened by the fact that they aren’t short of cash, having been taken over by billionaire Markus Liebherr back in 2009, and their return to the Premier League
What do you think Arsenal fans – would Luke Shaw be a good signing, or would you prefer to see an established player brought in to add depth to the full-back options? Share your thoughts below.
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3 Comments
we have two left back I don’t think left back is our problem now we need right back and defender ND a powerful striker,wenger should stop signing all dis young shall grow let him go for the big boys who have experience then we can think of lifting thropes dis season,gunners 4 life.later tins peace Yuh.
A.santos,Gibbs why all these venger.it’s right back and not left.but we know players can play another position and do well in venger’s hand and if he’s there type~welcome and don’t 4get santi cos i can see arsenal relegated without him and sakho.great gunners
Let’s not forget Wengers genius placing players on the field, remember when he bought Henri he was playing as a defender!
Wenger immediately moved him to the front and greatness…
Where they play now and where they play in Wengers habds may be very different and more productive.