Leeds United are stepping up their efforts in the transfer market as they look to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season.
Daniel Farke is keen for the club to build on last year’s progress and is pushing for additions that can raise the overall quality of a side that exceeded expectations by finishing 14th in the Premier League.
A club-record move for a Sporting Lisbon centre-back remains a priority and talks are progressing, but Leeds know their work is far from finished. The club are also exploring options in midfield as they look to add further depth and quality across the squad.
Leeds have also held a long-term interest in Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, and the club have now made a concrete move to secure his signature this summer.
The Whites tabled a bid with Southampton for Shea Charles
Shea Charles has been expected to move on from Southampton after the Spygate scandal amid interest from Premier League clubs this summer.
Leeds have been long-term admirers of the 22-year-old defensive midfielder and have been working on a deal to sign him in the ongoing transfer window.
According to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, Leeds have now moved in with an official bid to sign Charles from Southampton ahead of the new season.
The Whites have offered a deal worth £20m plus add-ons to convince Southampton to sell the midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Charles is seen as an ideal target for Leeds because of his age, talent and the variety of roles he can play in the team due to his versatility.
He is a central defensive midfielder who can only add more strength to the team and can also double as a central defender in a three-man defence.
The Leeds recruitment team are clearly impressed, and the club have now moved forward with a serious bid to snare him away from Southampton.
The next Ethan Ampadu
Charles’ game has an uncanny similarity with club captain Ethan Ampadu, and he can emerge as the perfect partner for the Welshman in the middle of the park.
Like the Leeds skipper, the Southampton star can play both in central midfield and defence, is very good on the ball and can read the game in front of him.
If Leeds can work out a deal with Saints, Charles has the perfect player to learn from in Ampadu and further develop his game at Elland Road.
The options Farke has on the bench mean the Saints star need not start games early and will get time to bed in and adapt to the intesity of the Premier League.
