There is much excitement in the Football Transfer Tavern this afternoon as Matt Law from The Times arrives in the bar with news of a planned Chelsea transfer raid in January.

Law claims that Chelsea are preparing a £20 million bid for Southampton left back Luke Shaw as the Stamford Bridge club try to test the Saints’ resolve once more.

Nicola Cortese, Southampton’s executive chairman, is positive that Shaw will not be sold, but that officials from the south coast club believe that an offer is due from their Premier League rivals with interest growing in the highly impressive defender.

The Blues will even make space in their squad for the England Under-21 international by offering Ryan Bertrand as part of the deal. Although he could be sold to Everton as a replacement for Leighton Baines, who could yet join Manchester United in the New Year.

Chelsea might not have a clear run at landing Shaw with Tottenham also showing interest in the 18-year-old, but given that the youngster has admitted to being a fan of the Blues, that could see him arriving at Stamford Bridge in the near future.

As one punter explains, Southampton are under no pressure to sell Shaw, who recently signed a five-year extension at St Mary’s Stadium, but that is unlikely to put Mourinho off as he targets the classy young defender as the perfect replacement for Ashley Cole.

The England international, who is understood to be growing increasingly out of favour in SW6, is expected to be granted one final year at Stamford Bridge but with Shaw possibly acting as his understudy as the brilliant starlet continues his development. It’s certainly a story we expect to raise its head in the tavern once the transfer window opens next month.