Shea Charles looks set for Fulham, eyeing Adam Wharton blueprint | OneFootball

According to Sainstmarching.com, Shea Charles looks set to join Fulham for £30m. Southampton would more than double the £15m they paid in summer 2023.

Saints fans may be disappointed to lose the Manchester-born Northern Irishman, but the fee is significant. He hopes to follow the EFL-to-Premier-League pathway, with Alex Scott a blueprint after a £25m switch to Bournemouth and a £64m Chelsea bid.

In stylistic terms, Charles will hope to mirror Adam Wharton’s swift rise. The Blackburn-born midfielder first shone with his hometown club, then became an £86m Manchester United target after moving to Crystal Palace.

Wharton made 51 senior appearances for Blackburn before Palace paid £22m, then recorded three assists in 16 Premier League games in 2023/24, averaging 4.9 duels won. His combative edge translated quickly to the top flight.

Charles has 76 outings for Southampton and, at 22, aims to step up after excelling in the Championship. He averaged 4.7 duels won last season, matching Wharton’s final second-tier figure, and has six goals for the Saints.

For now his focus is to impress at Craven Cottage. If progress follows the Wharton template, bigger clubs could circle in time.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”