Premier League rivals 'ready to submit' £24m offer for Leeds United transfer target
Leeds United’s interest in Shea Charles remains but progress has been slow.
Leeds United could face fresh competition for summer target Shea Charles amid reports of a big being readied by a Premier League rival.
The Whites remain interested in Charles but are yet to submit an offer that meets Southampton’s price-tag. Reports of a deal being close are wide of the mark but Elland Road chiefs remain hopeful they can come to an agreement with their Championship counterparts.
But the noise surrounding Charles is bordering on a transfer saga with every small detail covered via regular leaks - said leaks are not coming from Elland Road, with Leeds understandably not wanting to provide a running commentary on their negotiations. And another fresh report emerged overnight.
According to the Daily Mail, Fulham are ‘preparing’ an offer worth £24m for Charles with new manager Alvaro Arbeloa keen to welcome to 22-year-old to Craven Cottage. The report claims talks are ‘expected to advance’, with Southampton hoping to hold out for £25m plus add-ons.
Fulham have been named as a potential rival for Charles already this summer, with Crystal Palace also believed to be interested in the Northern Ireland international. It is important to note, however, that revealing their readiness to table an offer would be of no benefit to Craven Cottage chiefs.
If indeed Fulham are preparing a £24m offer, it would be in their best interests to keep that under wraps as they would not want Leeds or other potential rivals to learn they are now the highest bidders. The only interested party standing to benefit from this information being reported is Southampton.
St. Mary’s chiefs will understandably want to maximise the value of their prized asset, particularly because his former club Manchester City have a 15 per cent sell-on clause regarding their former academy graduate. And the best way to see a player’s price-tag rise is through an increase in demand - i.e. a bidding war.
Charles was left out of the Southampton squad that beat non-league neighbours Eastleigh on Saturday but his absence was not believed to be transfer-related. The midfielder returned for pre-season later than many if his teammates after representing Northern Ireland in two June friendlies.
Leeds are now out in the USA for their pre-season tour, with fixtures to come against Wrexham, Sunderland and Liverpool. The club have welcomed new signings mid-camp in previous years and have the appropriate medical facilities both back home and across the Atlantic to complete a transfer.