West Ham United are no closer, it seems, to landing the ball-carrying, all-action central midfielder Graham Potter appears to be crying out for.
Raphael Onyedika appears content to stay in Belgium with Club Brugge, as the Hammers prioritise deals for goalkeepers and centre-forwards.
Tyler Morton has reportedly agreed terms with Lyon. Monterrey’s Nelson Deossa played down the rumours on Tuesday afternoon. The Hammers are not in discussions with Juventus regarding Douglas Luiz, contrary to claims from the Italian press.
Furthermore, according to latest reports, West Ham cannot afford Liverpool benchwarmer Harvey Elliott or Southampton’s Portuguese playmaker Mateus Fernandes without first making a key sale or two.
Fernandes is allegedly valued in excess of £30 million. One of the few bright lights in a disastrous campaign for The Saints.
As for Shea Charles, Fernandes’ Southampton teammate and another on West Ham United’s midfield shortlist, the feeling among neutral observers and Football League experts is that the Saints will benefit immensely – not to mention financially – from handing the 21-year-old the keys to the Will Still machine.
Ali Maxwell thinks Southampton could get £60m for West Ham United target Shea Charles
Shea Charles is regarded extremely highly by Southampton fans for a reason.
The Saints spent £15 million on a teenage Charles when he had only one Premier League appearance for Manchester City under his belt. A profit feels guaranteed. How much of a profit, though, remains to be seen.
An outstanding loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday during the 2024/25 campaign has only solidified Ali Maxwell’s view that this is a youngster ready to explode in the coming months.
“I think he’ll be the standout central midfielder in the Championship this season,” Maxwell said on the Not The Top 20 podcast.
“I’m actually so bullish on Shea Charles that, without wanting to over exaggerate, I would say he’s one, maybe two seasons away from being considered a £50 – £60 million player.”
The implication from a West Ham perspective being that, if they do not make a move between now and the end of September, then the Manchester-born Northern Ireland international may quickly drift out of reach for all but the most deep-pocketed of clubs.
Maxwell credits Danny Rohl, the talismanic head coach who dragged a crisis-hit Sheffield Wednesday side to an impressive mid-table finish, for giving Charles the tools and the trust he needed to blossom in Yorkshire.
“This is a 21-year-old central midfielder, now with one full season of Championship experience,” Maxwell adds. “[Under Russell Martin at Southampton], Charles was often tasked with picking up the ball in deep midfield areas and he struggled a bit.
“He gave the ball away a few times. I think he learned a lot from that, and I think we have learned that is not the role in which he is going to thrive.
“He had an incredible season for Wednesday. In midfield, they had one of the best players in the league and it wasn’t [Owls legend] Barry Bannan!”
Manchester City graduate Charles ticks plenty of Graham Potter’s boxes
Graham Potter reportedly wants an athletic type of midfielder in the building this summer. Hence, why the Hammers boss turned down Martin Baturina prior to the stylish but lightweight Croatian joining Como in a £21 million deal instead.
A far more well-rounded, tactically flexible operator, Charles ranked second for assists [five], second for interceptions [1.4 per game], second for key passes [1.3 per game], fourth for successful dribbles [0.8 per game] and first for tackles [2.5 per game] during his time at Sheffield Wednesday.
“He is a player with so few weaknesses,” Maxwell explains. “When it comes to interceptions, key passes, tackles… He covers so much ground. He’s physically impeccable for a 21-year-old. And, on the ball as well, just divine.
“So, as you can tell, I am pretty up for seeing Shea Charles play for Southampton!”
Strangely enough, West Ham are now being linked with a move for Charles’ kid brother Pierce.
The younger of the two Charles siblings, Pierce is a 20-year-old goalkeeper at Sheffield Wednesday with eight Championship appearances on his CV.
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