Why Leeds failed to sign Shea Charles, with Fulham deal now confirmed
Leeds United have failed in their attempts to sign Shea Charles after his transfer to Fulham was announced this Tuesday.
The Whites were quick to outline the Northern Ireland international as their top midfield target this summer, and pushed hard to bring him to Elland Road
Paraag Marathe and Co. sanctioned multiple offers for the 22-year-old, though none of which were agreed with Southampton.
Talks over a move to LS11 went quiet, as Fulham then nipped in to emerge as frontrunners for Charles.
Daniel Farke is still keen to sign a midfielder this summer, but it's now well known that whoever the club brings in, they were never the first choice.
Leeds were unable to strike a deal to bring Charles to Elland Road, as further details of why have now been revealed.
Why Leeds failed to sign Shea Charles
Fulham announced the arrival of Charles on a five-year deal, with a deal said to be worth around £30million.
This will consist of an up-front fee in the region of £26m, with a further £4m in add-ons also included for the former Manchester City youth prospect.
As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Charles was the subject of two transfer bids from Leeds last month, but both fell short of the Saints' valuation, leading to firm rejections.
The Whites hit a standstill with Southampton last month, and a line was drawn underneath negotiations.
It's said that though Leeds' final offer remained on the table, it was still short of the £30m asking price, which always made Fulham likely to seal a deal once their interest emerged earlier this month.
When will Charles come to Elland Road?
One of Leeds' offer for Charles was in the region of £25m, but the club always knew they could not exceed their limits on one player.
The Whites spent a lot of money in signing James Trafford from Manchester City, and limited funds will be available for remaining transfer targets.
It was always believed that Charles was open to a move to Elland Road, but the failure to reach an agreement with Southampton meant that the transfer wasn't meant to be.
Farke and Co. will now be hoping that it doesn't come back to haunt them next season, with the Cottagers set to take on Leeds at Elland Road on 19 December.