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Given the sky-high prices of established talent, Premier League clubs are increasingly on the lookout for cheaper emerging players. But there are very few bargains on offer, as the Life’s a Pitch panel discovers when assessing the chances of Liverpool’s 17-year-old Raheem Sterling (pictured, above) heading to Spurs for £7.5m, Arsenal raiding Southampton for fellow 17-year-old Luke Shaw, and Aston Villa securing Ipswich’s Aaron Cresswell.

“I can see why Tottenham would want Sterling, he’s the type of player they like,” begins the Guardian’s Dominic Fifield. ”He has a sell-on value as well and a lot of potential. But it sounds very much as if Brendan Rodgers wants to keep hold of him. He tried to get him at Swansea, apparently, on loan. I can see him being loaned out to a club, his former club QPR have been mentioned. But I can’t see him leaving Liverpool permanently, I think they would resist that. I’ll give the move to Spurs a three out of 10.”

Journalist and author Ian Ridley also has doubts over a move to Arsenal for full-back Shaw, who is yet to play a league game for Southampton. ”Shaw is still only 17, Southampton may want to blood him in the Premier League and his value might go even higher. Chelsea like him as well, they even offered £4m. So, Arsenal have got a job on their hands if they are going to lure him away. If Arsenal were prepared to loan him back for the year that might be a runner, but I think Arsenal like to get players in and teach them the Arsenal way rather than do that, so I’m looking at a five for this one.”

But Ipswich’s Cresswell, who at 22 is the elder statesman of the group, looks a more likely transfer, says the People’s Dave Kidd. ”Paul Lambert has come in at Villa and one of his priorities was to sign a couple of quality full-backs. Cresswell seems to fit that bill, he’s a promising young player. I’d give that one a six or a seven – I know there are quite a few more irons in the fire with Villa.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above. 

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