Leeds accelerate Shea Charles deal to avoid hijack from rivals - Insider

Daniel Farke's desire to be backed by Leeds chiefs has seen them accelerate a move to sign Shea Charles.

Charles was among Southampton's top performers throughout last season and has several suitors as it stands.

The Saints' spygate saga and subsequent expulsion from the Championship play-offs have each increased the likelihood of him leaving St Mary's this summer.

Leeds are keen on a move for Charles right now, but saw a £20million bid rejected for his services earlier this week.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the Leeds board want to get a deal done for Charles soon to prove that they are keen to back Farke this summer.

The Whites boss insisted last month that the club must match his ambition by giving him a sizeable transfer kitty to spend before next season.

His comments were seen as a thinly-veiled threat towards the board that he could walk away from his position in charge, but they are keen to keep him happy in a move for Charles.

Farke was able to guide Leeds to a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League last season, but feels as if they can progress in 2026-27.

Harry Wilson looks set to join his squad soon, while another bid for Charles could be accepted as the 49ers aim to prove to Farke that they are prepared to match his ambitions this summer.

“Leeds operate within a certain market, and they buy and recruit players who are at the lower edge of the league that they're in, which always leaves you vulnerable," Brown exclusively told Football Insider.

“It seems to me that they always leave themselves open to a fluctuation in the league because of their recruitment. Now, I got the impression that the manager must have thought along those lines. And he said, look, ‘we've done this for years. We can't do it again. You're going to have to back me.’

“That means going into a pot. I don't know whether Leeds can do that, whether they want to do that, or whatever. But when you look at the players…like Rodon, he’s a decent all-round player, but he wasn't going to any of the top Premier League sides, and he wasn't going to play in Tottenham's team.

“He's one of Leeds’ best players, which tells you something about what I'm trying to explain. And they've got other players there who have done very, very well at what they do. To be fair to them, they took the centre-forward (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) from Everton when he had an injury record that you can't believe. Nobody would have taken him. And yet, it was a chance they took, and it came off to an extent.”

22-year-old Charles was key to Southampton's run to the play-off final, and has now completed three seasons as a top Championship midfielder since leaving Man City.

He has already picked up 35 caps for Northern Ireland too, with the likes of Man United, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace also believed to be keeping tabs on his availability.

Even though they have seen an initial bid rejected, sources have revealed to Football Insider that Leeds are confident of agreeing a deal for Charles in the coming weeks.

Another approach is set to take place soon, with Farke keen on getting a deal over the line to improve his midfield options.