Chelsea Set to Hijack Manchester United's Deal With Luke Shaw

Chelsea are making a move to hijack Manchester United's bid for Luke Shaw, according to the Daily Mail.

The Red Devils were close to securing a £27m deal with Southampton for the defender, but Patrice Evra's contract extension has put the deal under doubt and Jose Mourinho is keeping a close eye on the situation.

The Portuguese manager views the defender as a direct replacement for Ashley Cole, whose contract with the club expires this summer.

Shaw has also been subject to interest from Manchester City but the youngster rebuffed the move, anticipating a lack of game time in the home of the Champions.

City have thereby shifted their attention to Cole, with Aleksandar Kolarov's future at the club still uncertain. The Citizens also have Gael Clichy to deputise in that position and Cole's arrival will give them some much needed experience in the backline to challenge for major honours in Europe.

Southampton have a task in hand to keep their players next season, with a host of clubs keeping a track of the likes of Adam Lallana, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jay Rodriguez and others for a move in the summer.

The Saints are holding out on Liverpool's bid for Lallana, with the Merseyside club told to pay £5m more on the £20m that the Reds are prepared to bid for.

Meanwhile, United starlet Adnan Janujaz believes that the pre-season tours help develop youth and the Red Devils should be grooming as many players as possible to take part in the 2014 tour. which is expected to be announced by the club in a few days time.

"[The tour] is very important. That's where you have a chance to show your qualities and you get your training [base] for the rest of the season,"Januzaj told ManUtd.com.

"It's good for the young lads to improve over there and show the manager what you can do.

"When I went on tour I knew some of the lads already from the Reserves, but I started to learn more about everyone and how the club works," he added.