Leeds United’s interest in Shea Charles has been well reported recently, with Daniel Farke’s side making several approaches for the Southampton midfielder during the current transfer window.

Leeds United joined the hunt for Shea Charles in recent weeks after many other Premier League clubs had expressed interest, but Leeds also appeared to be pushing the hardest after confirming their interest with an opening bid for Southampton’s midfielder.

Although Leeds’ initial bid was rejected, they appear to have not quit up. Leeds made a second bid to Southampton for Charles before it was revealed that Southampton is currently asking for roughly £30 million for Charles.

It was then said that Leeds’ third bid fell short of Southampton’s value, while there has been speculation that Leeds’ most recent Charles bid is not as high as initially reported. Have the Whites moved on from the 22-year-old Southampton star?

Leeds United might have moved on from Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.

Crystal Palace is also interested in Southampton’s Charles, and there have been suggestions that Palace is pushing up their efforts to sign him, so Leeds may miss out. In fact, current reports imply that they are looking at other midfielders instead.

Mandela Keita is another midfielder who has sparked curiosity across Europe, with the Parma star improving in Serie A over the previous two years after spending his early career with OH Leuven and Antwerp.

The 24-year-old is a Belgian international, and Leeds are apparently interested in him, which might ensure Charles stays with Southampton if Leeds are now looking into more definite options.

According to the most recent sources from Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Whites appear to have moved on. They claim that negotiations have begun between the Italians and Leeds, and that his worth is around €30 million.

That implies a £25.7 million cost could be enough to persuade Parma to cash in, with the Serie A club reportedly eager to sell a few players for large sums. The sums are comparable to Southampton’s demands for Charles.

Why Leeds might not be giving up on Southampton’s Shea Charles just yet

Leeds clearly have a big decision to make in the centre of the park, as their pursuit of Charles appears to be at a crossroads after Southampton rejected three bids. However, this does not mean their interest has waned.

The Whites must now decide whether to return with a potentially last but improved offer or shift their focus entirely to other targets, with Keita now linked. Given that both midfielders are expected to attract salaries of about £25-30 million, this is not a decision to be taken lightly.

Leeds must consider which player is a better stylistic match, represents the best long-term investment, and has the most potential to advance in the Premier League. Despite Southampton’s staunch stance, Charles must remain a highly enticing possibility, especially given his native status.

However, if negotiations continue to drag, a move for Keita could become a more feasible option as Farke attempts to bolster his engine room. Perhaps they have already moved on, or perhaps this is an attempt to persuade Southampton to finally accept an offer. It’s one of the most intriguing transfer stories in the Championship right now.