Chelsea and Manchester United Suffer Setback in Pursuit of Luke Shaw

Mauricio Pochettino has rebutted all reports about defender Luke Shaw by stating that the teenager will not be sold in January.

Shaw's performances for the Saints have attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubs, most notably Chelsea and Manchester United and in November, reports of Tottenham Hotspur's interest in the teenager had come into the fore.

The left-back graduated from the Southampton's youth academy and was drafted into the first team last year. However, the Saints's manager has insisted that he will not entertain any offers for his star performers including the18-year-old as he attempts to bring European football to St. Mary's next season.

"It is a very clear situation. The player wants to stay, the club is not willing to sell," Pochettino insisted.

The 41-year-old is wary that there will be interest from other parties for his players, but pointed out that Shaw is still a teenager and that he has to focus on growing and developing his skills.

"What we also need to consider is that he is an 18-year-old player, that he is still maturing, still progressing. He is still learning how to be an experienced player," he explained.

"We need to be very calm about the situation. It has taken him some time to mature as a player and I think all these rumours and all this speculation around him is not beneficial for him. I think it is negative for him," he added.

Southampton are currently ninth in the league table and will face Cardiff City on Boxing Day without Shaw, who is out with a throat infection.

The Southampton academy boasts developing talents, who have gone on to become star performers for other teams in the league. The list includes players like Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gareth Bale. The Welshman stole the headlines in the summer after moving from Tottenham to Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee.

Some players like skipper Adam Lallana have stayed and guided the club from League One to the Premier League. Pochettino highlighted the work and efforts being devoted by the Saints' youth coaches.

"I think it is very clear what the project here at Southampton is. Our project is about young players and Luke Shaw is a prime example of someone who has come through the ranks at this club," he concluded.