Leeds United have stepped up their transfer activity and are hoping to have several new additions in place by the time pre-season gets underway next month.
Daniel Farke and the club’s recruitment team are working hard behind the scenes to strengthen the squad, with several deals being explored at the same time as Leeds look to build on last season’s progress.
One player firmly on their radar is Harry Wilson. Leeds have already held encouraging discussions with the winger and are believed to have put a lucrative offer on the table, including a substantial pay rise, in an attempt to convince him to make the move to Elland Road this summer.
Leeds are also in talks with Southampton for midfielder Shea Charles. The Saints rejected their initial offer, but the Whites have definitely pushed Manchester United out of the race.
Manchester United give up on signing Shea Charles
Shear Charles has emerged as one of the priority targets for Leeds, and the club are pushing hard to take him to Elland Road in the ongoing transfer window.
Southampton rejected an offer worth £20m from Leeds, and the Whites could be forced to pay a lot more money than they would have initially wanted.
Manchester United are also interested in Charles, with sporting director Jason Wilcox having long-term admiration for the midfielder this summer.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are not going for him as they believe that Charles wants to join Leeds this summer.
The Red Devils hold an interest in Charles, but they are not going after him. Leeds are firmly in pole position to sign the midfielder in the ongoing transfer window.
Leeds have the player’s green light as Charles is clearly pushing for a move to Elland Road in the ongoing summer transfer window.
With Manchester United out of the race, Southampton may not be able to spark the bidding war that they would have wanted.
An inflated midfield market is a problem for Leeds
Under normal circumstances, a £20m offer for a player entering the final year of his contract at a Championship club would be considered a strong bid from a Premier League side.
This summer, however, the market has become increasingly distorted, particularly when it comes to midfielders. Clubs are paying premium prices across the board, and that is having a knock-on effect on valuations further down the ladder.
The pursuit of Mateus Fernandes is a good example. Following West Ham’s relegation, many expected the Portuguese midfielder to be available for less than his true market value. Instead, the club are reportedly holding out for around £85m amid interest from Manchester United, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
That inflated market is now influencing negotiations elsewhere. Southampton are well aware of what clubs are willing to spend on midfielders and appear reluctant to lower their demands for Shea Charles.
As a result, Charles’ valuation has risen significantly despite Southampton missing out on promotion and the midfielder having just one year left on his contract. In a more normal market, Leeds might already have done a deal, but the current landscape means they are likely to face a much tougher negotiation than expected.
