Leeds United & Crystal Palace learn Southampton's new Shea Charles transfer demand | OneFootball

Leeds United and Crystal Palace have been told what Southampton's demands are for Shea Charles amid Everton and Atalanta joining the race...

Southampton are continuing to stand firm on Leeds United and Crystal Palace target Shea Charles, with the Northern Irishman expected to leave St. Mary's after failure to gain promotion.

Being kicked out of the play-offs is likely to be extremely damaging for Southampton, having improved immensely in the latter half of the campaign under Tonda Eckert. The likes of Shea Charles, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Leo Scienza are sure to have interest after their performances in that time.

Injuries meant Charles was unable to play a part in all of their games, with the 22-year-old featuring in 31 Championship matches and two play-off games. Despite not being renowned for big goals before last season, he came up with plenty in that time.

A late winner against Leicester City from 3-0 down, a stunner against Oxford United, a consolation during a League Cup clash at Anfield, a late FA Cup winner against Arsenal, and the winner in the play-offs against Middlesbrough all came in 2025/26. Now it appears Leeds United are pushing hardest for the player.

Leeds United and Crystal Palace learn Southampton's Shea Charles demand

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Sunderland's Dan Neil looks set to replace Charles for Southampton, with the Saints leading the way to sign the midfielder from Sunderland on a free transfer. However, there is work to be done for Leeds if they are to secure his services ahead of the competition.

Leeds' interest in Charles was revealed around two weeks ago, with the Whites then making a bid to sign him. Leeds' initial offer to Southampton for Charles was around £20 million.

However, Crystal Palace have been active in their pursuit of Charles as well. It's unclear yet which Premier League side will win the race, even though Leeds' second bid for Charles was lodged recently.

Further details continue to emerge regarding Leeds' pursuit of the Southampton star, with Simon Jones of The Daily Mail since revealing the asking price set by the Saints to sell the player to either Leeds or Palace.

He states that Southampton are pushing for £30 million for the 22-year-old, but that Leeds are in talks with the Saints to try to reach a compromise over a fee.

However, the report also adds that there is interest from Atalanta and Everton in the Northern Ireland international. Palace and Leeds will want to act swiftly if they are to beat the competition to sign one of the second tier's most coveted players this summer.

Shea Charles is worth splashing out £30 million for

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It's fair ​​to say Charles has enjoyed a rapid rise since progressing through Manchester City's academy, where he developed a reputation as one of the club's most technically gifted young midfielders in his age group.

So much so that it convinced Southampton to part ways with big money to sign the Northern Ireland international in the summer of 2023, recognising both his immense potential and versatility. Early in his Saints career, Charles was deployed in several positions, including defensive midfield, central midfield, right-back, and even centre-back on occasion.

A successful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday helped accelerate his development, giving him the regular senior football needed to refine his game before returning to establish himself as a key figure at St. Mary's. Now one of the Championship's standout midfielders at just 22, Charles combines power and composure in possession with defensive awareness and athleticism.

It makes him an attractive proposition for Premier League clubs seeking a homegrown player capable of making an immediate impact while still possessing enormous room for further development. To some, £30 million may seem steep, but his resale value could be double that if he continues on his current trajectory.