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Football League World

·17 June 2026

FLW’s Southampton supporter pundit has shared his opinion on Manchester United’s reported interest in Shea Charles.

Southampton narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League after being expelled from the play-offs. The Saints had been due to face Hull City in the final but were disqualified after breaching the EFL’s regulations regarding spying on opposing teams.

Despite that setback, the Hampshire club are expected to mount another promotion challenge next season, although the future of head coach Tonda Eckert remains uncertain. Speculation also surrounds several key players at St. Mary’s, with doubts over whether Leo Scienza and Caspar Jander will stay with the team.

Midfielder Shea Charles has drawn attention from multiple clubs, with Manchester United reportedly eyeing a move for him. The 22-year-old joined Southampton from Manchester City in 2023 and is now valued at around £20 million. Leeds United are also said to be interested as he approaches the final year of his contract.

When asked whether Charles was currently ready to play for Manchester United, FLW’s Southampton fan pundit Louis Harris suggested that his ceiling at Old Trafford might only be as a squad player. Harris noted that the connection makes sense because of Charles’ previous association with United’s technical director Jason Wilcox, but he argued that the Northern Irishman may lack the quality to become a regular under Michael Carrick.

“I have absolutely no doubt that Charles is a very gifted operator on the ball,” Harris told Football League World. “He’s extremely calm and composed and reads the game well. When I first heard the link, it did surprise me, considering he wasn’t a regular starter last season and mostly acted as backup to Flynn Downes and Caspar Jander.”

“You probably need to consider Jason Wilcox, who is now Manchester United’s technical director. He worked with Charles previously both at Southampton and during his time in Manchester City’s academy. If an offer came in that was too good to refuse, I wouldn’t be against it. I do think he’ll have an important role to play in our promotion campaign next season. But overall, he could only ever be a squad player at best for United.”

Charles joined Southampton from Manchester City in 2023 for a reported fee of £10 million and has made 63 league appearances for the club, all in the Championship. During the 2024/25 campaign, he spent a season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, where he featured 43 times and helped the team finish 12th in the table.

As he enters the final 12 months of his contract, Southampton may view this summer as their last opportunity to secure a transfer fee for him, rather than risk losing him for free in 2027.

Manchester United are in the process of reshaping their midfield following the departure of Casemiro on a free transfer. The current options include Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Mason Mount, though the futures of the latter two remain uncertain. This scenario could provide Charles with a chance to establish himself under Carrick if he were to make the move.

However, United have also been linked with other midfielders such as Mateus Fernandes and have already finalised a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson.

Back at Southampton, Charles could cement his place as a first-team regular, particularly given the uncertainty over Jander’s future. Regular game time would be crucial for his development and progression as a player. Nonetheless, the prospect of joining Manchester United is understandably appealing, even if his playing time would be limited. With Carrick’s side competing across four competitions next season, including the Champions League, Charles would likely get opportunities to feature — making a potential move difficult to turn down if the offer is right.