It’s that time of the season when many pundits and experts deliver their opinion on which teams look destined for a relegation battle in the Premier League.
Andy Townsend, an ex-professional footballer and now commentator, has claimed that Leeds United will suffer this term and finish 2026/27 in 16th position.
Daniel Farke will once again be out to prove a lot of the doubters wrong, with the German being backed by the 49ers this summer to try and make the Whites a top-half outfit in England’s top-flight.
Added reinforcements will certainly be needed to make such a goal more achievable, but it looks as though one player won’t be making a move to Elland Road.
Why Leeds should move away from signing Shea Charles
Unless you’ve been living under a rock over recent months, you will have seen that Leeds have been one of the clubs most strongly touted with a move for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.
Farke’s men have even made two separate offers for the Northern Ireland international, but both bids have since been rejected – with the latest said to total £25m.
However, a third offer was said to be “on the table” last week, but it appears as though, just like with the other two, it’s not been enough to secure the 22-year-old’s signature.
The Saints’ reluctance to sell the youngster to the Whites could prove to be a blessing in disguise, with Charles a player who’s only featured for 27 top-flight minutes during his professional career.
|
Shea Charles – Championship stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
31 |
|
Goals & assists |
5 |
|
Pass accuracy |
82% |
|
Chances created |
0.9 |
|
Dribble success |
50% |
|
Duels won |
6.3 |
|
Fouls committed |
1.5 |
|
Clearances made |
1.4 |
Spending such funds on an unproven top-flight talent would be a huge risk for Farke’s men, with proven options from top divisions across Europe needed to reach the next level.
Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson are two examples of the calibre of players needed for success, with Charles a talent who needs time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
However, it appears as though the latter’s former side have taken a gamble on the Saints star, after journalist Florian Plettenberg confirmed Fulham were closing in on an agreement for the midfielder.
How Leeds can land a bigger talent than Charles this summer
After their long-standing interest in a move for Charles, it would be a surprise to no one if Leeds moved on to other targets to improve the heart of the side ahead of 2026/27.
Yunas Musah has been one player to emerge on their radar as of late, but it appears the hierarchy are now putting their focus into different transfer targets at present.
Instead, a potential deal for Real Betis central midfielder Nelson Deossa could be on the cards, especially if recent reports around his future are to be believed.
It’s been reported in Spain that Farke’s men will be sending scouts to watch the 26-year-old in action against Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin tonight.
They also claim his proposed move to Vasco da Gama is now on hold after the Whites’ interest, with the LaLiga side currently demanding €11m (£9m) to offload the Colombian.
Whilst it’s unclear if Leeds will act upon their recent interest, which could depend on his showing tonight, but his stats from last season do make for good reading.
Many of his figures are way above those produced by fellow transfer target Charles, which showcases why he would be a better addition than the Southampton star.
Deossa managed to win a staggering 11.5 ground duels per 90 last season, a tally which was nearly two times higher than that of the Northern Ireland international.
The Colombian star’s tally was also the highest of any midfielder in LaLiga, subsequently demonstrating his superb ability to regain possession at the heart of the side.
He also achieved a better ground duel success rate and made more ball recoveries per 90, reaffirming his sensational ability at disrupting the opposition in their attacking flow.
The Betis star’s dominance over Charles was further evident with his talent in possession, which saw him complete more of his attempted dribbles and make more passes into the final third per 90.
Such numbers showcase the clear difference in talent between the two transfer targets – not to mention with Deossa doing so in a higher quality division.
£9m for a player of his quality would prove to be a phenomenal piece of business and one which can finally allow Farke’s men to steer clear of a deal for the Southampton star.
