Transfer News: Chelsea Tipped To Beat Rivals To £30m-Rated Defender

With the January transfer window in full flow clubs are working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Chelsea have been tipped to win the race for Southampton’s Luke Shaw.

Luke Shaw is prepared to turn down the advances of a whole host of clubs including Arsenal, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham in order to seal his dream move to Chelsea, according to the Express.

The 18-year-old Southampton defender is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in England after a superb 18 months on the South Coast that’s seen him cement himself in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting eleven.

His impressive form for the Saints has understandably attracted interest from a whole host of top Premier League clubs and the Express claim that Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham are all keen on the player – who Southampton rate at £30m.

However, it appears there is only one club that Shaw wants to join with the newspaper suggesting that the left-back grew up a Chelsea fan and has already told friends that he has his ‘heart set’ on joining his boyhood club in the summer.

Ashley Cole is now 33 and has lost his place in the Chelsea starting eleven this season with Jose Mourinho moving Cesar Azpolicueta over from right-back to replace the former Arsenal man on the left side of his defence. The Portuguese coach is on the look-out for a long-term option and the report states that he has identified Shaw as Cole’s ideal replacement and will look to seal a deal at the end of the season.

A move to Chelsea would certainly make sense for Shaw and he could even learn from Cole – once regarded as the best left-back in the world – if the veteran is handed a new 12 month deal to stay at Stamford Bridge next season.

Arsenal may be showing an interest but they are unlikely to pay over the odds for another left-back when they already have Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal on the books. Tottenham are entering a new era under Tim Sherwood at White Hart Lane but the north Londoners are also highly unlikely to match Southampton’s supposed price-tag, while there would be question marks over whether Liverpool would be able to justify spending such a fee for a defender.

So Chelsea’s most likely competition is going to come from the two Manchester clubs, as they would both be able to compete with the Blues on a financial level and they are also in need of long-term options at left-back. Like Cole, Patrice Evra is coming to the end of his illustrious career at Old Trafford while neither Gael Clichy or Alexander Kolarov have been able to cement their place in the first team at City, so both clubs could try and fight Chelsea for Shaw this summer.

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However, if the Express’s report is accurate then the youngster’s most likely destination is west London in order to join the club he followed as a child.

Do you rate Shaw? Would Chelsea fans like to see him replace Ashley Cole at left-back? Share your views below.