Shea Charles is speculated to be drawing midfield attention from West Ham which will not please Southampton fans given the prolonged waiting they have done for the 21-year-old's return.
In 2023, Southampton splashed a sizeable £15m from their transfer budget on Manchester City's midfield wonderkid, Shea Charles. As with any typical youth investment, the Saints also went the loan transfers way to help Charles reach the level needed to start games at St. Mary's.
In hindsight, it has turned out to be a smart buy but doesn't appear as one to strengthen Southampton's first team. The reason being that Charles has starred at Sheffield Wednesday and also overall in the Championship, but his previous six months have slightly increased the frustration in Southampton's camp.
Southampton fearing Shea Charles January recap with West Ham's interest
He was viewed as the ideal candidate to dominate the middle of the park for the Saints at a time when midfield regulars like Joe Aribo had to oversee more defensive responsibilities.
Despite that wish to recall him early, Sheffield Wednesday didn't agree and played hardball until they convinced Southampton to let him stay until May.
Thus, that long wait has only ended now, when the Daily Mail is suggesting West Ham as a possible next destination for Charles. Well, it must be said that the Hammers have shown their appreciation for the Saints squad more than anyone else across the Premier League.
To the extent that they might even give their approval to some eyebrow-raising add-ons in the case of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, should Southampton demand. Nevertheless, giving Charles to them or anyone just doesn't fit right in terms of sporting advantages.
The 21-year-old has sparked ambitions of a midfield controller profile among the fans even when he was away in the second division and those dreams shouldn't come true from a lengthy distance always, isn't it?
Finally, it's up to both Charles and Southampton to resolve this situation and aim for a long-term plan, whether it's staying here or going to another club.