Leeds United transfer blow as two Premier League rivals join race after £23m-plus offer
Leeds United look set to face competition for one of their key transfer targets.
Leeds United could face increased competition for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles amid reports of growing Premier League interest.
Interest in Charles from Leeds has been well-documented this summer and discussions remain ongoing with Southampton over a potential deal. According to reports, two bids have been submitted for the Northern Ireland international, the latter believed to have been worth £23million plus add-ons.
Reports of that second offer surfaced over a week ago with Leeds not wanting to provide a running commentary on their discussions with Southampton. 49ers Enterprises have a track record of wanting to keep their transfer negotiations under wraps and for good reason, with leaked information tending to weaken their position.
According to Sky Sports, two more Premier League teams are now interested in Charles with Crystal Palace and Fulham the pair in question. However, neither have made any contact with Southampton, leaving them behind Leeds who have submitted two offers and remain in talks with the south coast club.
Palace had previously been linked with interest in Charles amid uncertainty over the future of Daichi Kamada, whose contract expired at the end of last season. The Japan international has since put pen to paper on a new one-year deal.
TalkSPORT also report on growing interest in Charles and add that Southampton value their versatile midfielder at £30m. They label the former Manchester City academy star a ‘top priority’ for Leeds, which is evidenced by their pair of bids.
"At the moment I am focused on Southampton and the next campaign,” Charles said last month, as quoted by talkSPORT. "Obviously we’ll see what happens when we go back into camp or pre-season. I’m really looking forward to going back to Southampton.”
Charles has one year remaining on his current Southampton contract but the Championship club hold a one-year extension option. Their failure to secure promotion from the second-tier leaves them vulnerable when it comes to transfer interest in their top players.
And Charles is certainly one of them, with 38 appearances across all competitions last season yielding six goals and two assists. Despite still being just 22, the midfielder has also been capped 35 times by Northern Ireland and even captained his nation.
Charles came through the Manchester City academy alongside his younger brother, goalkeeper Pierce Charles. The Etihad side are believed to have matching buyback rights on the Leeds target as well as a sell-on clause entitling them to a percentage of any Southampton sale.