Tottenham battle Chelsea for £16.5m-rated Premier League starlet

Tottenham are gearing up to battle Chelsea for Southampton youngster Luke Shaw, according to Metro.

The 17-year-old recently announced his decision to pen a new long-term contract with the Saints when he turns 18, but that hasn't stopped reports suggesting Chelsea are closing on a deal for him.

The Blues are believed to have had a £4 million bid turned down for the defender last summer, while last month it was reported they were closing in on a £10 million deal.

Now, according to the Metro, Tottenham are ready to challenge for the latest highly-rated product of the famed Southampton academy, who is valued at £16.5 million.

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Shaw, but it now appears to be a straight fight between Chelsea and Tottenham.

Spurs will hope that the young full-back will be tempted to fell in the footsteps of Gareth Bale, who has gone on to establish himself as one of the best players in Europe after joining the north London club from Southampton in 2007.

Metro report Southampton are in no rush to sell Shaw, who has previously admitted he is a Chelsea fan, but both the Blues and Spurs may be hoping to persuade him to abandon his plans to sign his first professional deal on the south coast and head to London instead.