How United’s latest signing compares with others in the league.
Manchester United have completed the £27m signing of Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, making the 18-year-old the fourth most expensive defender of all time behind David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Rio Ferdinand.
The teenager has had two good years with the Saints so far, but there is still a lot of pressure on the youngster to perform and here is how Shaw rates against other top left-backs in the Premier League in terms of statistics.
Stats courtesy of Sky Sports.
Luke Shaw
Matches: 35.
Dribbles: 111.
Crosses: 142.
Chances created: 35.
Shaw had a solid season at St Mary’s in 2013/14, earning a glowing reputation in the process and usurping Chelsea veteran Ashley Cole in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Patrice Evra
Matches: 33.
Dribbles: 51.
Crosses: 130.
Chances created: 38.
Despite having signed a new one-year at Old Trafford this 33-year-old Frenchman is the man who will be replaced by Shaw in the long-term, although Evra will be difficult to emulate having been among the best in his position for the past eight years.
Leighton Baines
Matches: 32.
Dribbles: 68.
Crosses: 130.
Chances created: 49.
This was the full-back the Red Devils had targeted, but judging by the 29-year-old’s performances for the Three Lions at the World Cup they did well to avoid splashing the cash now on the Everton man.
Kieran Gibbs
Matches: 28.
Dribbles: 51.
Crosses: 71.
Chances created: 13.
A player that Arsene Wenger has pledged his faith in at Arsenal, although judging by this Gibbs still has some work to do to catch up with the others on this list.
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