Crystal Palace Set To Hijack Leeds Transfer Deal

Crystal Palace are intent on hijacking Leeds United's move for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook. Charles enjoyed an impressive season in the Championship for the Saints in 2025/26, despite Tonda Eckert's side's failure to secure promotion, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 38 appearances across all competitions. This form has prompted widespread interest from a host of Premier League clubs, including Leeds, Fulham and now Palace. Leeds have had a £25million bid rejected for Charles, and this came after they'd had an initial offer turned down. While the Yorkshire club are expected to maintain their pursuit of the Northern Irishman, Palace have now entered the fray, as they look to add midfield recruits to Pierre Sage's squad. Crystal Palace join race to sign Charles Palace's window kicked into gear earlier this week, when the Eagles announced that they'd sealed a deal for Celta Vigo centre-back Oscar Mingueza. While the South London club will look to build on this impressive acquisition, a large part of their summer could be about replacing their prized possession, Adam Wharton. Palace are braced for offers for Wharton, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all linked with the England international. It appears the Selhurst Park hierarchy are already making succession plans for Wharton's inevitable departure, whether that be this summer or in the near future. Crook reports that the South Londoners have joined the race for Charles, who is seemingly a top target for Leeds. The Whites have had multiple proposals rejected for the Championship star, while Fulham are also understood to be in the mix to land the player. Southampton are resigned to losing the former Sheffield Wednesday loanee having missed out on promotion, and a bidding war could ensue now that several clubs are attempting to hijack Leeds ' pursuit. Crystal Palace will need further midfield signings to replace Adam Wharton Daichi Kamada signed a new one-year contract extension at Palace earlier this week, following speculation suggesting that his time in South London was set to come to an end. If Wharton does go this summer, the Japan international's presence should help alleviate some of the issues this departure would cause. Charles would also help guide Palace in their post-Wharton era, although at least one or two more fresh faces in the middle of the park are needed. The 22-year-old "exciting" Saints star is an astute player, but he has no Premier League experience or experience at the top level in general, and thus, it would be a huge risk for Palace to place all their eggs in this basket. Palace were linked with Hayden Hackney before Everton signed the Middlesbrough man, which suggests that they are aware of their need for greater pedigree in this position.