Manchester United have abandoned their pursuit of left-back Leighton Baines and will instead make a £25 million bid for Southampton's Luke Shaw, according to the Daily Star. United manager David Moyes had two bids rejected for Baines, one of £12 million and another of £28 million that was also to include team-mate Marouane Fellaini. And though the latter joined on transfer deadline day, the former remained at Everton, and Moyes has now conceded defeat in landing the England international. The champions also failed with a last-ditch bid for Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao as the window slammed shut on September 2, and Moyes will now turn his attentions to Shaw. He may have to fork out £25 million however, after his club Southampton slapped a huge price-tag on the teenager's head. But that is unlikely to deter the United chief, who is determined to fend off interest from Chelsea and Tottenham, who are also in the running for the 18-year-old. The Saint's academy product has now emerged as the player Moyes wants to replace the long-serving Patrice Evra, but a deal may prove complicated. Money aside, Southampton don't need to sell, with Shaw penning a new, five-year-deal back in July. But if the south coast outfit do decide to do business, United won't be the only interested party. Chelsea are also interested in the starlet, with Stamford Bridge believed to be Shaw's preferred destination. Spurs are also keen but manager Andre Villas-Boas has been impressed by left-back Danny Rose and may not enter the bidding war, leading to a straight-shootout between Chelsea and United.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
