Leeds United ready Shea Charles move after long-term scouting mission
Leeds United are reportedly looking to begin their 2026 summer transfer plans with an official approach for Southampton ace Shea Charles.
The Whites survived Premier League relegation last season and are now looking to push on.
With Southampton being kicked out of the play-offs and set for another season in the Championship, the door to sign their key players is open.
Among those is Charles, who has attracted plenty of interest from within the Premier League, including from Leeds.
The 22-year-old is a star that has been admired by officials at Elland Road for quite some time.
Now, that admiration could finally come to fruition amid the latest reports surrounding the midfielder.
What has been said about Leeds' interest in Shea Charles?
Leeds are in the market for a midfielder, and after links to Sporting's Hidemasa Morita, it seems the Whites are looking at younger options.
Among those is Southampton midfielder Charles, with Leeds poised to signal their interest officially.
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are now "weighing up" an approach for the Southampton star.
The Whites have held a historic interest in the Northern Ireland international tracking back to 2023.
Farke also looked to bring Charles to Elland Road last season after securing promotion to the top flight.
Charles is now said to be worth around the £20million mark.
At Elland Road, the 22-year-old is viewed as a player who would "improve their squad immediately".
While "extensive talks" were held with Morita, the LS11 side is more attracted to the potential re-sale value that the younger midfielder would offer.
Furthermore, he would help fill a homegrown slot heading into the 2026-2027 Premier League season.
Where would Charles fit in Leeds team?
If Charles was to arrive in LS11, he would likely be coming in to take the place of Ao Tanaka.
While the Japanese midfielder became first-choice towards the end of the season, there is still a feeling that Farke does not trust him quite enough.
Tanaka is a fan favourite at Elland Road, and perhaps the competition in the midfield could push him to improve further.
After Ethan Ampadu signed a new deal to keep himself at Elland Road, he would be the likely partner for Charles in the centre of the pitch.
Other stars such as Ilia Gruev may have to question their role at Leeds, despite the Bulgarian suggesting he wants to stay in the Premier League.