Leeds United need midfield help, and they might be willing to pay up to get it. Southampton’s Shea Charles has emerged as a £20 million target for the Yorkshire club, according to the Daily Mail. The Northern Ireland international fits the profile of a young, versatile player Daniel Farke could build around for the long haul.
Southampton reportedly values Charles at that price point, and there’s some competition — Manchester United has also been credited with keeping tabs on him. But Leeds has the more immediate need. They finished 15th in the Premier League last season, and Farke is trying to avoid a sophomore slump back in the top flight.
Charles logged 38 appearances for Southampton last year and scored six goals. One of those came in the Championship play-off semifinal against Middlesbrough, a clutch moment for a player who’s still only 22. That kind of production from midfield doesn’t come cheap, and Leeds knows it.
Harrison heading elsewhere?
On the outgoing side, Fiorentina doesn’t look interested in making Jack Harrison’s loan permanent. TuttomercatoWeb reports that wage costs are the sticking point. Harrison spent the second half of last season in Serie A and managed one goal in 22 appearances across all competitions. Not awful, but not enough for Fiorentina to justify a big payday.
That leaves Leeds with a decision. Harrison is still under contract, so they could bring him back into the fold or try to shop him elsewhere. The European window has a way of creating late interest, especially for a winger with Premier League experience.
Leeds isn’t in a panic. Farke has the squad mostly set for next season, but the midfield could use some youth and energy. Charles offers both. If the money lines up, this could be one of the more straightforward deals of the summer.
As for Harrison, he’ll likely end up somewhere in Europe or back in England on a new loan. The market moves fast, but Fiorentina has already signaled it’s moving on.
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