Remember that line of AVB's in a recent press conference about the price premium on English players? I'm half-convinced that was a veiled reference to Shaw. Rumours (paper talk and message board chat, basically) seemed to suggest that Southampton were asking a small fortune for him. And in fairness, if Southampton want double the amount that we could buy Coentrao for, AVB is probably making the right decision.
Disclaimer: Just like 95% of what gets discussed here during the transfer window, this is all pure speculation based on internet boll**ks.
Yeah, Soton are no longer skint members and ripe for picking, either.
But the dough we are spending now makes me ache a little for Shaw.