Pete Hanson

Fri 7 July 2023 10:10, UK

Leeds United look set to miss out on Manchester City midfielder Shea Charles who is closing on a switch to Southampton, according to the Daily Mail.

Simon Jones wrote on the Mail Online that the Saints are set to sign the talented Northern Ireland international in an £11million deal.

Leeds, who like Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season, were named among the clubs interested in Charles along with Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Leicester City.

However, Saints’ director of football operations Jason Wilcox – a former Leeds player – has used his contacts at City to steal a march on his rivals.

Consequently, Charles is set to follow the same path of Romeo Lavia, who Saints are expected to lose along with James Ward-Prowse this transfer window.

A shame

Shea Charles is a player tipped with a very bright future, and Southampton will see plenty of resale value on the midfielder at a fee of £11m.

It is a shame that Leeds just have not yet really been in a position to fight for his signature, with Daniel Farke having only just been appointed as the Whites’ new manager.

The club have also yet to receive the green light on the full sale of the club to 49ers Enterprises, even though that deal now looks a formality to go through.

Leeds will have plenty of other targets to focus on in the remainder of the window to strengthen Farke’s squad as he looks to engineer a return to the Premier League next term.

But in Charles they may be looking at one who slipped through the net, and will get a look at close proximity against the Saints in the Championship next term.

In other Leeds United news, Real Betis are close to announcing the signing of Marc Roca after a deal for Ayoze Perez was sealed.