Battle on for Saints star

Chelsea and Arsenal are set to battle it out for the signature of Southampton prodigy Luke Shaw, according to reports.

The 16-year-old defender has yet to break into the first-team squad at St Mary's but he is thought to be the brightest young talent of his generation and both Chelsea and Arsenal are keen to get him on board. Shaw is unable to sign a pro contract with Saints until he is 17 and the club fear one of the Premier League's big guns could come in and attempt to snap him up before he does so. Any club would have to pay serious compensation and reports claim that Chelsea are ready to start the bidding by offering £4million for the talented left-back. However Southampton rate him as highly as Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott and will be after much more than that if they are to allow a move to happen. Arsenal are also keen and could be favourites as he would have more chance of breaking into the Gunners first team as Arsene Wenger is short of left backs, while Chelsea already have Ryan Bertrand and Ashley Cole.