Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has urged defender Luke Shaw to remain at the club beyond the summer for the good of his career.
The 17-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to Chelsea - the team that he supported as a boy.
However, with left-backs Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand already at Stamford Bridge, Le Tissier believes that Shaw's development could be stunted if he made the switch to the Londoners.
"[Staying put is] very important. Him, his agent, his family and whoever he has got around him need to take all those things into consideration," Le Tissier told Sports Mole. "For me, I just want him to play football. In that situation I wouldn't have thought twice about staying somewhere that I will be first choice - guaranteed - as long as my form is good.
"You can't beat getting games under your belt at that age. He's got loads of time ahead of him to make a big move to a Champions League club if that is what he so desires. I know he was a Chelsea fan as a boy so that might have some effect later on his career."
One-club man Le Tissier, who retired in 2002, went on to claim that Shaw has all the potential to become one of the best full-backs in the English game.
"From what I've seen so far I don't see any reason why not. I've not see too many deficiencies in his game that show that he is going to get exposed in any way," he added. "I've only seen a lot of very, very good things and there is no reason why he can't play regular Champions League football and become a regular for England.
"Ashley Cole is coming to an end and Leighton Baines still has a few years left in him - he's a very good left-back - so he will have some competition with him. But Shaw has got a very bright future ahead of him."
Shaw agreed a five-year contract with the Saints in January, which he will sign when he turns 18 next month.
Matt Le Tissier was speaking at the Samsung Experience Store, Westfield, Stratford, at the launch of Samsung Win A Pro Contract, a nationwide competition where amateur footballers can win one-year professional contracts at Swindon Town, Leyton Orient and Wycombe Wanderers. Register for a trial at facebook.com/samsungfootball.
Liam Apicella
