Shea Charles smokescreen? Southampton decision offers potential Leeds United exit hint | OneFootball

Shea Charles' absence from Southampton's opening pre-season friendly will intensify speculation about a possible move to Leeds United.

Southampton are preparing for another season in the Championship after a controversial end to the previous campaign.

Southampton finished fourth in the Championship last season, and they booked their place in the play-off final with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Middlesbrough in their semi-final, but they were kicked out of the Wembley showpiece as a result of the 'spygate' affair and handed a four-point deduction for the upcoming campaign.

Despite being hit with a hefty punishment by the EFL, Saints owner Dragan Solak confirmed last month that head coach Tonda Eckert retains his full support, although there is still some uncertainty around the German's position as he awaits the outcome of an FA investigation into his actions.

Southampton have made four new signings so far this summer, with Daniel Peretz, George Long and Cyle Larin all returning on a permanent basis after loan spells at St Mary's last season, while Lewis Dobbin has arrived from Aston Villa for a fee of £9 million plus add-ons.

While the likes of Alex McCarthy, Oriol Romeu, Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart all departed at the end of their contracts, the Saints are yet to lose any of their stars this summer, but that could be set to change amid speculation over the future of midfielder Shea Charles.

Southampton facing Shea Charles exit threat amid Leeds United interest

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Charles endured a frustrating start to life at Southampton following his move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 in a deal that could eventually be worth £15 million, but after spending the 2024-25 season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, he has established himself at St Mary's over the past year.

The 22-year-old scored six goals and provided two assists in 38 appearances for the Saints during an impressive campaign last season, and he was involved in plenty of memorable moments towards the end of the campaign.

Charles scored a late winner for Southampton in their 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April, and while the result ultimately counted for nothing, he also scored the decisive goal in extra time of his side's play-off semi-final second leg win over Middlesbrough in May.

It seems that Charles' standout performances for the Saints have not gone unnoticed, and while he has been linked with a number of top flight clubs this summer, Leeds United have shown the strongest interest in the Northern Ireland international so far.

The Whites had an initial bid of £20 million for Charles rejected by Southampton before an improved offer of £23 million was also knocked back, but negotiations between the two clubs are still believed to be ongoing.

With the Saints thought to be holding out for a £30 million fee, Leeds may have to significantly increase their bid if they are to strike a deal, and they are now facing competition from two of their Premier League rivals after Fulham and Crystal Palace joined the race for Charles.

Shea Charles pre-season absence could provide Southampton future hint

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While it seems no agreement to sell Charles is imminent, eyebrows were raised by the midfielder's absence from Southampton's opening pre-season friendly over the weekend.

The Saints began preparations for the new Championship season with a 3-1 victory over National League side Eastleigh on Saturday night, but Charles was not involved in the squad for the game at the Silverlake Stadium.

Eckert named a different team for each half of the win against the Spitfires, with a host of high-profile names including Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, Tom Fellows and Leo Scienza featuring, so Charles' omission was certainly intriguing amid the current speculation over his future.

Charles started both of Northern Ireland's friendly matches against Guinea and France in early June, and it seems he was given an extended summer break, with the Southern Daily Echo reporting that he only reported back to pre-season training earlier in the week and was therefore not fit enough to feature in the Eastleigh clash.

However, some Southampton supporters have questioned whether his absence could be due to the fact that he is set to depart, rather than because of a genuine fitness concern, and as Eckert's men jet off to their training camp in Germany, all eyes will be on the line-up for the next friendly against Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday.

The Saints will be keen to get Charles up to speed ahead of the new season after his delayed return, but they will also be reluctant for the midfielder to pick up an injury that could jeopardise a potential £30 million transfer deal, giving Eckert a big dilemma ahead of the upcoming games.