Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has insisted the club are not looking to sell 17-year-old left-back Luke Shaw to Arsenal amid reports the Gunners are set to offer the Saints £5 million for the teenage starlet, ESPN Soccernet understands.
Shaw featured in Southampton’s league fixture against the Gunners at St Mary’s Stadium on New Year’s Day.
Keep in mind, the Southampton youth system has already gifted Gunners boss Arsene Wenger Theo Walcott and, more recently, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Wenger has heaped praise on the Saints’ youth system, insisting that the club produce more technically-gifted players than his own Gunners, fueling speculation that Arsenal are lining up a bid for Luke Shaw in January.
“The question about Southampton’s academy set-up is a very good one because they have done a fabulous job,” revealed the Frenchman. “It is down to the quality of their scouting, the quality of their coaching and education.
“We produce some technically-gifted players but not as many as Southampton. It is exceptional what they have done. The three wingers (Gareth Bale, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott) and Luke Shaw – that is a good way to study what they have done. They have brought through some players with top, top quality and they work well.”
Shaw has featured 13 times for Southampton this season, including 11 appearances, 10 starts, in the English Premier League.
The Gunners options at left-back include the likes of out-of-favour Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs, who was awarded with a new long-term deal last month.
In addition, the 17-year-old Shaw can also play as a left-winger, much like former Southampton ace Gareth Bale.
Redknapp wants Joe Cole
Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he is keen on bringing Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole to Loftus Road, having disclosed that he is in the process of scheduling talks with the Reds manager Brendan Rodgers, Sky Sports reports.
Cole has been out of sorts since returning to Anfield following his season-long loan at Lille OSC last term.
The former England international has not started a Premier League game under Brendan Rodgers this season, and is very much out-of-favour after being left out against QPR on Sunday.
“I’ve got a lot of time for Joe, as a player and a person, he’s a good lad to have around your football club, a good player,” said Redknapp.
“He’s interesting me. I’d like to bring him here if we could. We’ll see what happens.
“The deal would have to be right for the club. We couldn’t do a deal with Liverpool with what his contract is at Liverpool. We’d have to try to find a way of doing a deal with Liverpool, if they’re willing to let him go.
The Englishman went on to reveal that he has not spoken to Cole in two years, but he is expecting to have a sit down with Brendan Rodgers regarding the Englishman’s future at Liverpool.
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