Leeds United target Shea Charles absent for Southampton opener amid transfer stalemate | OneFootball

Leeds United target Shea Charles missed Southampton’s pre-season opener at Eastleigh, with talks over his future yet to yield a breakthrough.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Leeds have made bids for the 22-year-old, the latest reportedly up to £25m, while Fulham and Crystal Palace also hold interest. Southampton are thought to value him at around £30m, a sum not yet matched.

Charles reported back last week following June duty with Northern Ireland, returning later than many teammates. He was not involved against Eastleigh and is likely to have been left out for fitness reasons.

Southampton won 3-1 using a strong group including Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Leo Scienza and £9m signing Lewis Dobbin. Saints selected different XIs for each half and Charles did not appear in either. Ben Brereton Diaz also seemed not physically ready to feature, while Finn Azaz missed out with a minor injury.

Southampton next face Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday in Germany, the first of two matches on their training camp, and it is unclear if Charles will be available. The former Manchester City academy graduate remains on Leeds’ list after they completed their first paid signing of the summer, centre-back Tarik Muharemovic in a £34m deal from Sassuolo, following free agent arrival Harry Wilson as the second addition to Daniel Farke’s squad.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk