5 big money teens that paved the way for Luke Shaw

Manchester United’s summer rebuilding has been kicked off with the Red Devils reportedly bidding a cool £27m for Southampton’s teen sensation Luke Shaw.

United are now priced at 6/1 to reclaim the title next year and are looking to spend around £150m on new talent this summer.

The deal will see the England man move high up the ranks of the Premier League’s most expensive teens and while such promise can lead to a glittering career it doesn’t always work out.

Here are five other English teen transfers that shocked fans around the country.

Jermaine Pennant – Notts County to Arsenal – £2m

In today’s game £2m barely pays for a season’s worth of prawn sandwiches but back in 1999 it was enough to raise more than a few eyebrows – especially for a 15-year-old.

Pennant arrived at Arsenal with much fanfare but ultimately failed to deliver on his potential.

Six seasons in north London yielded just 26 first team appearances and a paltry three goals. He has since played for a number of clubs – most notably Birmingham, Liverpool, Real Zaragoza and Stoke – but at just 31-years-old is currently without a team.

Jermaine Jenas – Nottingham Forest to Newcastle – £5m

Another cautionary tale involving Jermaine from Nottingham but this time it was Forest’s Jenas who hit the headlines with a £5m switch to St James’ Park.

Life in Newcastle started well with the 2003 Young Player of the Year Award coming his way but there have been minimal honours added to that list since.

A series of lacklustre displays saw Jeans fall down the Magpies pecking order and a career lifeline from Spurs failed to see the midfielder reach any great heights.

After loan spells at Aston Villa and first club Forest Jenas was sold to QPR where he failed to stave off relegation and is now plying his trade in the second tier.

Connor Wickham – Ipswich to Sunderland – £8m

The Tractor Boys were sorry to see their powerful forward sold but may have started to be thankful after the striker struggled early on in his Black Cats career.

However, successful loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United saw the striker recalled to the Stadium of Light for Sunderland’s’ relegation dog fight.

Five goals in Sunderland’s last six games proved vital in the Black Cats great escape and things are now looking bright once more for Wickham’s future.

Theo Walcott – Southampton to Arsenal – £9m

Shaw will hope his big money move brings him the success of Walcott – although perhaps not his luck with injuries.

Walcott is yet to live up to hype as far as trophies are concerned – with just two League Cups to show so far – but on his day the pacy forward is as exciting as any player in the league.

When fit the England man is one of the first names on Arsene Wenger’s team sheet and at the tender age of 25 the winger still has his best years ahead of him. Hopefully!

Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United – £27m

As one of the world’s most talked about footballers Rooney still divides opinion with his biggest critics denying him world class status and questioning his international displays.

However, his club honours list speaks for itself with five Premier League titles, two League Cup triumphs and the 2008 Champions League to show so far.

The most expensive player on this list he may be but with a trophy haul like that many would consider him great value for money.

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