Manchester United Set to Approach Southampton with Improved Offer for Luke Shaw

Manchester United have stepped up their efforts and are reportedly preparing to make an improved offer of £34m to convince Southampton to sell Luke Shaw in the coming weeks.

The Daily Mirror reports that incoming manager Louis van Gaal is desperate to sign the England international during the summer transfer window and wants the Red Devils' executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to complete the deal as soon as the left-back returns from Brazil.

The Saints had earlier demanded at least £30m for Shaw and were believed to have rejected a bid of £27m from United last month. The 20-time English champions have not given up and will break the bank to secure the services of their long-term defensive target.

Reports surfacing earlier this month have claimed that Shaw has told his current employers about his desire to be a part of the Dutchman's revolution at Old Trafford. The Hampshire based club are said to be under no pressure to sell their prized asset and are playing hardball with all clubs attempting to sign their players.

Shaw, who turns 19 next month, is understood to be offered a wage package of £100,000-a-week to leave St Mary's. He will be making his debut appearance at the World Cup for Roy Hodgson's side when the Three Lions face Costa Rica in a dead rubber clash at the Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, on Tuesday.

Van Gaal will have Patrice Evra for one more year and is resigned to losing Alexander Buttner to Dynamo Moscow. The former Vitesse defender revealed about his ongoing negotiations with the Russian Premier League side while criticising the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss' decision to not select him for the national team.

Chelsea too were reportedly keen on signing the Southampton academy product who started in 35 Premier League matches last season.

With United thought to be in considerable lead, Jose Mourinho's side have reportedly switched to other targets, with CSKA Moscow's Georgi Schennikov believed to be among the candidates.

Meanwhile, a report from the Daily Mail looks to have handed a huge blow to Van Gaal's plans. They claim that Southampton's newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman is unwilling to part ways with the teenager and has raised the asking price to £40m.

The former Netherlands defender wants to guide the Saints to a top six finish in the league next season and will be hoping that the revised price-tag will ward off United from pursuing Shaw's signature.