Alex Ferguson: 'Manchester United tried to sign Luke Shaw when he was 16'

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that the Red Devils tried to sign Luke Shaw back when he was a 16-year-old.

The former Southampton man, now 19 years of age, joined the South Coast club's academy when he was eight years old, going on to make his debut in 2012 in a FA Cup clash against Millwall.

Ferguson is quoted as saying in The Express: "The signing of Shaw was the one we tried to get when he was 16 years of age. They wouldn't sell him to us but they always said we'd be first to know if they ever did.

"Of course, Ed Woodward has carried that through and we got him for, I think it was £30m. He's a talented boy, a good footballer who likes to get forward all the time."

Other major signings by Manchester United this summer include Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera.