Man City’s Shea Charles will join Southampton this week as Ward-Prowse exit| SolSportHQ
Manchester City midfielder Shea Charles is joining Southampton this week in a £15million deal.
Southampton are bracing themselves to lose James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, so have targeted 19-year-old Northern Ireland international Charles who is well known by head of football operations Jason Wilcox from his time at City.
Mail Sport also understands that Borussia Dortmund were preparing a summer bid for the Man City midfielder earlier this season.
They are keen on City’s young forward Carlos Borges. City goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, 20, is joining Ipswich, while Girona and PSV Eindhoven have asked for winger Savinho on loan.
City are continuing talks with Red Bull Leipzig over a fee for £86m-rated defender Josko Gvardiol.
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They are also waiting a decision from Kyle Walker over his new contract amid interest from Bayern Munich.
Mail Sport reported last week that the Saints were closing in on a deal to sign Charles, a graduate of Man City’s academy.
The 19-year-old is a committed central-midfielder who can play across the middle of the park, as well as right-back, and possesses an excellent passing range and has won two Premier League 2 titles with Man City, captaining the side to the title last season.
He made his debut for the senior side at the end of the season, coming on in City’s final game against Brentford.
The rising prospect, who is qualified to play for Northern Ireland, also made his senior International debut last year, and has featured throughout the side’s recent Euro 2024 Qualifying campaign too.
Charles’ signing comes as much speculation is revolving around Ward-Prowse’s future at the club after they were relegated last season.
Fulham are the latest team to enter the race to sign the Englishman, while both West Ham and Spurs, two other teams looking to add more options in midfield, have been interested in signing the free-kick specialist.
He won’t come cheap though, with Southampton slapping a £40m price tag on the 28-year-old.
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