Luke Shaw to Manchester United: Left-back has told Southampton he wants Old Trafford transfer

United have made a £27m offer for the 18-year-old but Saints are reluctant to make any decision on his future until a new manager has been appointed

Luke Shaw remains a transfer target for Manchester United (Getty Images)

Luke Shaw is reported to have informed Southampton on the final day of the season that he wanted to join Manchester United this summer, as talk of a £27m move continues to drag on ahead of the World Cup.

Shaw is with the England squad after they touched down in Rio de Janeiro following their two warm-up matches in Miami, but the 18-year-old continues to be linked with United as they look to begin their summer revamp following a difficult season under David Moyes.

With Louis van Gaal also at the World Cup with Netherlands, any transfer is unlikely to go through before the tournament gets underway this Thursday, and Southampton’s statement last week that no other players would be sold until a new manager is appointed following the departure of striker Rickie Lambert.

Lambert, who is also with the England squad, completed a £4m plus add-ons transfer to his hometown club Liverpool, and with questions remaining over the futures of Shaw and team-mate Adam Lallana, the Saints’ hierarchy are unwilling to discussions any transfer business until they have appointed Maurico Pochettino’s replacement. Ronald Koeman has been the bookmakers’ favourite, although Hull manager Steve Bruce has also been linked with the vacancy.

Despite Saints’ reluctance to sell, the BBC claim that Shaw informed them that his intentions are to leave the south coast club this summer, with a move to United his preference as they seek a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra.

Evra looked to be heading for the Old Trafford exit this summer until he agreed a new one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club until the end of next season, but the belief is that Shaw will be their first-choice left-back for years to come should they land the highly-rated teenager.

But even though England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he would like his squad to have resolved their futures before the tournament gets underway, Southampton will not be rushed into making a decision. The club are hoping to appoint a new manager within 10 days, meaning that the World Cup will be in full swing by the time the new man in charge can assess what he wants to do with the £27m offer for Shaw.