Former Man United left-back defends Luke Shaw’s £30m transfer fee

Mikael Silvestre has defended Manchester United over their £30m deal to sign Luke Shaw from Southampton this summer.

The 18-year-old became new boss Louis van Gaal’s second signing of the summer following the capture of Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao and is understood to have netted a wage packet of around £160,000 a week.

After six or seven years, you won’t say that it was an expensive deal

Mikael Silvestre

But despite eyebrows being raised at the Red Devils making Shaw the most expensive teenager in Premier League history, former defender Silvestre feels that United will get value for their money.

“You have to look at the entire deal here,” Silvestre told Goal.

“OK, the sum is £30m but how long has he signed for? Four years. So you have to keep that in mind as well.

“I know it’s expensive if you look at it this way but when you join Manchester United you don’t stay there for just one year, you will probably be there for four or five years.

“I stayed there for nine years. So overall, after six or seven years, you won’t say that it was an expensive deal. It is a good investment by the club.”