Leeds United transfer news as months-long pursuit ‘intensifies’ in Manchester City starlet Shea Charles
Leeds United are after Manchester City teenager Shea Charles and their interest has “intensified” according to Mo Ibrahim.
The defensive midfielder has emerged as a summer transfer target for a number of clubs, with The Guardian reporting on 11 April that he is also interesting Brentford and Borussia Dortmund.
It has now emerged that the Whites’ pursuit of the versatile Northern Ireland international, who is said to have “showcased an extraordinary passing range for someone so young” according to Leeds Live on 12 April, dates back months to the start of the year and has now stepped up a few notches.
Ibrahim, part of Gianluca Di Marzio’s staff, posted on Twitter Friday (14 April): “Leeds United are interested in Manchester City talent Shea Charles.
“Been told interest tracks back to the start of the season but has now been intensified recently.”
Heating up
The injury to Tyler Adams has exposed a gap in the squad for a defensive midfielder, with the American arguably needing a holder next to him at times anyway.
Marc Roca and Weston McKennie stepped up admirably in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest last week (4 April) despite neither being especially defensive, but the collapse to Crystal Palace five days later has thrown doubt over the line up again.
Victor Orta has plenty of faults, with the latest development in the ridiculous Jean-Kevin Augustin saga appears to show, but talent identification has often been strong.
Acquisition is often the issue, and with clubs now lining up for Charles it looks like the Whites were on the trail early once more but whether they have left it too late to be successful has to now be a question.
Darko Gyabi might be wondering if he is invisible if the club are looking back to the very same source they signed him from for another highly-rated youngster in the same position, without having given him a first-team run.
But if it is passing that sets Charles apart the hierarchy might view him as the true replacement for current City man and former Elland Road favourite Kalvin Phillips.
In other Leeds United news, a decision has now been made in another Whites transfer chase for a Premier League man.